The Open Networking Foundation (ONF) has initiated a project called SD-RAN, which could prove to be a major challenger to O-RAN in the open 5G arena. The foundation is well known for efforts like CORD (Central Office Re-architected as a Datacenter) and the ONOS (Open Network Operating System) SDN controller. Now it is venturing into the RAN for the first time because it claims the O-RAN Alliance is becoming too vendor-dominated and too slow-moving to meet operators’ needs. The ONF is promising a more “truly open” RAN ecosystem. Timon Sloane, its VP of marketing, said RAN vendors are increasingly active in O-RAN and are starting to “advocate for standards that are beneficial to their businesses”. He did not give specific…