Samsung and Ciena have formed an alliance to provide 5G end-to-end networks, to offer an alternative to Nokia and Ericsson. The tie-up mirrors one between NEC and Juniper, which also focuses on open 5G networks including transport, core and RAN. Samsung and Ciena will provide an end-to-end, pre-integrated offering based on the Korean firm’s 5G vRAN, radios and core, with Ciena’s xHaul routing and switching portfolio and its Manage Control and Plan (MCP) domain controller. “It’s about bringing together wireless with wireline,” said Joe Marsella, VP of product line management at Ciena. “Together we can form a pretty strong solution that enables operators a third choice out there in the market, which we think is a combination of best-of-breed components.”…