Radio Access Networks (RAN) & LTE: coverage and capacity, engineered to your site
From macro towers to in-building DAS, small cells and Open RAN, HCT designs, builds and optimises the radio layer that carries your traffic — 4G LTE today, 5G NR tomorrow — with the RF planning, multi-vendor integration and automation that turn spectrum into reliable, high-capacity coverage.
RAN capex share
20–25%
of mobile network capex — the largest segment[1]
Open RAN market
~$20B
Open RAN market by 2030[2]
Open RAN TCO
up to 30%
lower total cost with Open RAN / vRAN[3]
Peak cell
1.4 Gbps
n78 5G macro, 100 MHz TDD[4]
The access layer
What the RAN does — and why disaggregation matters
The Radio Access Network is everything between the device and the core: the radios, antennas and baseband that turn licensed spectrum into coverage. Modern 5G RAN is disaggregated into Radio (RU), Distributed (DU) and Central (CU) units connected by open interfaces — so operators can mix vendors, virtualise baseband on standard servers, and automate optimisation with a RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC).
Coverage toolkit
Four ways we deliver coverage & capacity
| Layer | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Macro | Tower/rooftop high-power cells | Wide-area outdoor coverage |
| DAS | Distributed Antenna System, in-building | Airports, malls, stadiums, towers |
| Small cell | Low-power densification nodes | Hotspots, capacity infill, campuses |
| Open RAN / vRAN | Disaggregated, virtualised baseband | Multi-vendor, automated, future-proof |
Why Open RAN
Open, virtualised, intelligent
Open RAN replaces locked, single-vendor radio with open interfaces and software-defined baseband — cutting cost, ending lock-in and letting AI optimise the network in near-real time.
Vendor diversity
Virtualised (vRAN)
RIC automation
Lower TCO & energy
Generations
4G LTE vs 5G NR — in the RAN
| Attribute | 4G LTE RAN | 5G NR RAN |
|---|---|---|
| Peak cell throughput | ~150–300 Mbps | 1–3+ Gbps |
| Latency (air) | ~10–30 ms | ~1–10 ms (URLLC) |
| Antenna | 2T2R / 4T4R | Massive MIMO 32T32R / 64T64R |
| Architecture | eNB (often integrated) | gNB, disaggregated RU/DU/CU |
| Slicing | Limited | Native, end-to-end |
Momentum
Open RAN is scaling fast
Spectrum
Bands we plan & engineer
| Band | Frequency | Peak | Range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n78 (5G) | 3.3–3.8 GHz | 1.0–1.4 Gbps | 1–3 km | Urban & campus capacity |
| n258 (mmWave) | 26 GHz | 3–5 Gbps | 200–800 m | Hotspot / fixed wireless |
| B3 / B7 (LTE) | 1.8 / 2.6 GHz | 150–300 Mbps | 2–6 km | LTE coverage & capacity |
| B8 / B20 (LTE) | 900 / 800 MHz | 50–150 Mbps | 5–10 km | Wide-area & deep indoor |
Sources: 3GPP TS 38.101[4] · Yemen MTIT spectrum framework[5].
For procurement
Traditional RAN vs Open RAN — 5-year TCO
Representative single-site cluster; figures indicative. Open RAN trades a modest integration premium for lower hardware, energy and lock-in cost.
| Cost line | Traditional RAN | Open RAN / vRAN | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radio & baseband hardware | 1,800,000 | 1,250,000 | −31% |
| Integration & SI | 160,000 | 320,000 | +100% |
| Energy (5 yr) | 900,000 | 630,000 | −30% |
| Operations (5 yr) | 740,000 | 560,000 | −24% |
| 5-year TCO | 3,600,000 | 2,760,000 | −23% |
Indicative; Open RAN savings consistent with industry analysis of up to ~30%[3]. Final figures depend on scale, vendors and SLA. Quote at hctgroup-ye.com/contactus.
Standards
Built to open standards
| Standard / body | Scope |
|---|---|
| 3GPP (Rel-15–18) | NR & LTE radio, gNB/eNB, F1, slicing |
| O-RAN Alliance | O-RU/O-DU/O-CU, Open Fronthaul 7.2x, E2/A1/O1, RIC |
| eCPRI | Packet-based fronthaul transport |
| Yemen MTIT | Spectrum licensing & type approval |
Delivery
How HCT delivers RAN
Plan & survey
Optimise
Operate
RAN is the access layer of HCT’s end-to-end stack — pair it with Private 5G, Core Networks, Transport and network slicing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does HCT Group deliver in RAN?
End-to-end radio access network services: RF planning and design, macro and small cell deployment, DAS for in-building coverage, Open RAN integration, and post-deployment optimisation against measured KPIs.
When should we use small cells or DAS instead of macro coverage?
Macro sites deliver wide outdoor coverage. Small cells add capacity in dense areas and fill outdoor gaps. DAS distributes coverage inside buildings, tunnels and structures where macro signal does not penetrate. Most enterprise sites need a combination, determined by RF survey.
How is RAN performance validated after deployment?
HCT Group benchmarks against measured operational KPIs including coverage, throughput, latency, handover success and reliability, rather than design assumptions, and optimises until the agreed SLA is met.
Turn spectrum into reliable, high-capacity coverage.
Book a RAN design session and free RF site survey — we’ll model coverage, capacity, spectrum and a 4G→5G / Open RAN path for your operation.
Sources & references
- Dell’Oro Group — RAN averages ~20–25% of wireless capex; Cloud/vRAN ~15–20% of RAN by 2030.
- Grand View Research — Open RAN market ~$4.5B (2024) → ~$20.4B (2030), 25.6% CAGR.
- Analysys Mason — Open RAN can deliver up to ~30% TCO savings (vendor estimates to ~37% over 5 yr).
- 3GPP — TS 38.101 (NR bands) & RAN specifications, Release 15–18.
- Yemen MTIT — spectrum licensing & type-approval framework.