Operators are investing hopes of elusive 5G revenues as well as cash in network APIs, no doubt encouraged and emboldened by a slew of optimistic forecasts – some of which stretch credulity to breaking point. This is not to denigrate the real opportunities emerging, but to instill some perspective so that overinflated early expectations do not end being dashed on the rocks of disillusionment. We are witnessing various collaborative deals between operators and major technology providers, including equipment vendors and the major hyperscalers. Google Cloud has been in the thick of it, in combination with Nokia at Orange for example, and with Ericsson at Telefonica. Meanwhile, in the USA, early activity around Ericsson’s $14 billion five year Open RAN contract…