2026 Open RAN Operator Survey Highlights and Analysis

This document is a white paper presenting the results of the 2026 Open RAN Operator Survey conducted by Omdia. The survey, which took place in December 2025 and January 2026, included responses from telecom service provider employees who operate mobile networks. The paper outlines key findings indicating that open RAN concepts are becoming mainstream in RAN design and operations, with 40% of respondents indicating meaningful adoption. It details the operators' beliefs that open RAN will enable faster innovation and highlights the growing interest in advanced automation frameworks. The paper also discusses the current state of the vendor ecosystem, with 56% of operators acknowledging progress but noting that a thriving ecosystem is yet to be established. Furthermore, it examines the anticipated role of open RAN in the development of 6G technologies and the integration of AI in RAN systems. The document concludes with insights into the survey demographics and methodology.