At&t’s open ran gamble: a vendor lock-in revelation

AT&T’s strategic shift in wireless infrastructure is revealing a surprising consequence: a growing reliance on Ericsson, despite its initial embrace of Open RAN technology. The carrier, once championing a more open, vendor-agnostic approach, is now heavily invested in Ericsson’s equipment, raising questions about the true motivations behind its Open RAN rollout.

The open ran promise – and the reality

AT&T initially touted Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) – a system allowing for a mix of hardware and software from different vendors – as a way to lower costs, integrate AI tools, and increase network flexibility. Fifty percent of their traffic was already running on Open RAN, with a goal of reaching 70% by year’s end. But a closer look at the network’s evolution reveals a concerning trend: a significant consolidation around Ericsson.

Between mid-2025 and the latter half of the year, Ericsson equipment dominated Macro sites, surging to 73.84%. By the end of 2025, that figure climbed to an astonishing 84.21%, leaving Nokia with a shrinking share of the network’s backbone. This represents a dramatic departure from the open architecture AT&T initially championed.

From open to closed: a vendor dependence

The move to Open RAN was purportedly driven by cost reduction and the ability to leverage general-purpose servers. However, the data paints a different picture – one of increasing dependence on a single supplier. RootMetrics testing consistently ranked AT&T at the top for performance, yet this success is now inextricably linked to Ericsson’s dominance.

Performance metrics tell the story

While Ookla’s RootMetrics service highlighted AT&T’s performance – particularly in median download speeds and 5G availability – the underlying equipment played a crucial role. Ericsson’s markets showed a clear advantage, with results remarkably close to competitors. Notably, T-Mobile, despite its initial struggles, performed competitively, partially due to its use of a broader range of equipment from Ericsson and Nokia. Per Narvinger, head of Ericsson’s mobile networks Business group, highlighted the use of advanced semiconductors – 3nm process nodes – in Ericsson’s latest 5G products, suggesting a strategic investment in future-proof technology.

However, T-Mobile’s older equipment, acquired during the Sprint merger, appears to be a significant factor in its lower rankings. It’s a sobering reminder that technological progress isn’t always a linear trajectory. The age of the gear, not the technology itself, may be holding back the carrier’s performance.

Ultimately, AT&T’s Open RAN journey has yielded a less-than-transparent outcome. What began as a promise of vendor diversity has solidified into a reliance on Ericsson, challenging the narrative of a truly open and competitive network.