NEC is strengthening its open RAN and 5G goals by buying privately-owned Blue Danube Systems, a firm based in the United States.

Blue Danube capabilities and strengths

Blue Danube Systems specializes in CBRS/4G/5G RAN products, massive MIMO beamforming technology, and AI/ML-based software solutions that help mobile operators address the challenge of 5G network buildouts and spectrum optimization.

It claims to have developed a patented Coherent Massive MIMO beamforming technology, which it says increases capacity by up to three times. It benefits from autonomous AI/machine learning beam optimization software to enhance overall multi-site performance in both FDD and TDD bands.

Over the last five years, Blue Danube solutions have been used commercially and handle 4G and 5G baseband processing. It also claims increased coverage in a variety of deployment situations, in addition to capacity improvements. AT&T completed the initial commercial tests of its massive MIMO technology with Blue Danube in the FDD LTE spectrum in 2017.

NEC Strengths its 5G Portfolio and customer support with Blue Danube

NEC, as a leading Open RAN provider that is recognized for its end-to-end Open 5G solutions and system integration capabilities, continues to invest in the 5G business through organic and inorganic initiatives, aligned with its “Mid-term Management Plan 2025.” This acquisition expands NEC’s customer support capability and assets in North America and adds to the breadth of its Open RAN solutions portfolio to support the needs and demands of customers.

Blue Danube will join NEC with an innovative team that builds onto NEC’s global 5G R&D capabilities, and the company’s patented beamforming technologies will further enhance NEC’s leadership in 4G and 5G Radio Units based on O-RAN specifications. Additionally, it will accelerate NEC’s expansion of RAN software assets to help customers address issues related to spectrum efficiency, RAN optimization, and reducing network OPEX.

NEC has been making a bigger effort in the open RAN and 5G market, with partners including Japan operators Rakuten Mobile and NTT Docomo.

NEC is in the lead when it comes to integration and validation, as well as supplying open 5G massive MIMO radio units for open RAN trials with Telefónica in Europe. Last year, Vodafone chose NEC as a vendor for its large-scale open RAN deployment in the United Kingdom. It has also teamed up with Qualcomm to create 5G vDUs.

The deal with Blue Danube is expected to close around March of 2022, pending regulatory approval. Financial terms were not disclosed. 

Senior Vice President, NEC Corporation, Shigeru Okuya’s Statement

“Blue Danube’s 5G products complement our Open 5G solutions portfolio, enabling us to meet growing market demands and accommodate diversified use cases,” said Shigeru Okuya, Senior Vice President, NEC Corporation. “This acquisition is a great opportunity for us to expand our 5G offerings and will bring substantial value to our customers. NEC has committed to a leadership position in Open RAN network development and this move extends our physical reach and innovation roadmap to deliver on that commitment.”

CEO of Blue Danube, Mark Pinto’s Statement

“Becoming part of NEC enables Blue Danube to expand our 5G product offerings, and together we will bring ever more powerful hardware and software products based on O-RAN specifications to customers worldwide,” said Mark Pinto, CEO of Blue Danube in a statement.

About NEC Corporation

NEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of “Orchestrating a brighter world.” NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness, and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com.

About Blue Danube Systems

Blue Danube Systems designs next-generation wireless solutions for mobile networks and other applications. Our Coherent Massive MIMO solution brings 5G beamforming to today’s networks, dramatically increasing network capacity and end-user experience. Together with a cloud-based software suite utilizing machine learning techniques, our technology enables up to a 10X capacity increase in cellular networks. Blue Danube Systems is a privately held US-based start-up backed by Sequoia Capital and Silver Lake along with other investors including AT&T. For more information, please visit www.bluedanube.com