VMware has achieved a strong position in early deployments of cloud-based 5G networks, with many operators partnering with the Dell-owned company for their telco cloud platforms. Now it is pushing further into the RAN, to ride the wave of operator interest in Open RAN, and to try to stay ahead of rivals like IBM’s Red Hat and Wind River. It also needs to counter developments that would see 5G functions running on bare metal in the public cloud; or tier one OEMs packaging their own cloud platform with their RAN network functions. The recent announcement that Dish would run its 5G Open RAN in the AWS cloud prompted speculation that VMware’s deal with the US operator might be ending, but…