Private wireless infrastructure provider Betacom scored a deal with Qualcomm to boost its equipment with the chip giant’s recently enhanced radio access network (RAN) automation technology to make it easier to deploy and manage enterprise private 5G networks.

The deal calls for Qualcomm to provide its RAN automation platform to Betacom as it looks to expand its managed private 5G-as-a-service platform into the enterprise space. This includes providing Betacom access to Qualcomm’s ecosystem of tested and validated IoT devices and systems.

Brian Watkins, EVP of business strategy at Betacom, said this deal provides it with access to Qualcomm’s broad ecosystem of IoT devices and platforms. “But what makes it even more powerful for us is that RAN automation, that RAN orchestration,” Watkins said, explaining that this acts as the connectivity tissue between the network and the device ecosystem. “We can in a much more rapid fashion identify problems, have solutions, have a very robust pre-integrated set of devices and applications.”

Watkins added that this gives him "a license to go hunt in the verticals I haven’t been in because of limited resources.”

“Now it gives me license to say I’ve already got a number of pre-built solutions integrated into my network that I can take into retail, mining, manufacturing, energy, or precision agriculture and I can move beyond those initial use cases,” he said.

Betacom’s platform also includes network management through a cloud-based security and service operating center “built on zero trust.” The vendor claims more than 800 design and deployment projects, working with established operators like AT&T, T-Mobile US, and Verizon. This includes powering various high-profile sporting events.

Betacom is also a vendor partner for Google’s Distributed Cloud Edge service that the hyperscaler updated earlier this year. That program has Betacom running its managed 5G-as-a-service option on top of Google’s Distributed Cloud (GDC) Edge system.

The deal also builds heavily on Qualcomm’s recent acquisition of Cellwize Wireless Technologies.

Cellwize focused on self-optimized network (SON) technology that automates the instantiation and management of RAN elements, especially at the network edge. This includes open RAN, virtualized RAN (vRAN), and traditional RAN, which is becoming increasing important as 5G network deployments begin to rely on dispersed cloud-native and multi-vendor RAN elements.

Rasmus Helberg, senior director of product management at Qualcomm, explained Cellwize’s product was being used by more than 30 operators to manage their mobile RAN.

Helberg noted that the Cellwize platform is also beginning to evolve into a service management and orchestration (SMO) framework that is becoming more important for open RAN deployments.

“This has the capability to manage multiple RAN architecture, this can be O-RAN, classic RAN, it can be virtualized RAN, as well as multivendor,” Helberg said.

Helberg said the Betacom deal is also part of Qualcomm early work on private wireless. “We have not yet launched a commercial solution, so this is the early stages to evaluation and do the [proof of concepts] with partners like Betacom,” he explained.