In the rapidly advancing world of 5G, small cell networks are leading the charge toward the growth of Open RAN. The small cell ecosystem has always been a champion of innovation, allowing new and established vendors to coexist. Now, organizations like the SCF and O-RAN Alliance are working together to face the challenges of creating a RAN that is not only multivendor but, in many instances, virtualized. By leveraging the lessons learned from early experiences of open networking, these organizations are creating blueprints to help mitigate risks for early adopters. As per SCF’s latest forecast, open vRAN architectures are set to account for over half of the small cell installed base by 2028, signifying a monumental shift in the industry.