Deutsche Telekom Issues RFQ Covering 30,000 RAN Sites

Table of Contents

What we do know

Deutsche Telekom is preparing to issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ) document in early 2026 (January) covering approx. 30,000 radio-access-network (RAN) sites. (TelecomTV)
The RFQ is part of Deutsche Telekom’s move toward a more open, multi-vendor / disaggregated RAN architecture (Open RAN) in its networks. (TelecomTV)
Prior to this large-scale RFQ, the company is deploying over 3,000 open-RAN-compatible sites in Germany as a first phase. (TelecomTV)
Deutsche Telekom emphasises that the magnitude of the RFQ will lead to a “change in the operating model … change in how we are managing our networks”. (TelecomTV)
Key strategic aims: greater supplier choice, network automation, multi-vendor interoperability, deployment of internal SMO (Service Management & Orchestration) and RIC (RAN Intelligent Controller) capabilities. (TelecomTV)

What we don’t yet know / open questions

The exact scope of the RFQ (geography, site types – e.g., macro vs small-cell, indoor/outdoor, greenfield vs refresh) has not been publicly detailed.
The vendor selection criteria (technology requirements, open-RAN compliance levels, legacy vendor treatment) have not been laid out in full.
The budget value associated with the 30k sites RFQ has not been publicly announced.
The contracting model (single prime vs multiple vendors, regional lots, O&M inclusion) remains unspecified.
The timing of deployment post-RFQ (how many sites per year) and the network performance targets (e.g., energy efficiency, latency, throughput) tied to the 30k rollout appear not fully published.
Risk: As a previous plan for 3,000 sites slipped from end-2026 to 2027. (Light Reading)

Why it matters – strategic implications

A 30k-site RFQ signals a major scale-up of open/disaggregated RAN strategy for Deutsche Telekom, beyond pilot or isolated deployments.
It reflects shift from “vendor-locked, single-supplier RAN” to multi-vendor, interoperable frameworks: more competition, flexibility, potential cost savings.
For vendors: big opportunity to participate in a large procurement; but also higher requirements around interoperability, open standards, and O&M.
For network operations: having multiple suppliers and open architecture means Deutsche Telekom will likely require enhanced orchestration/automation capabilities (SMO/RIC) and stronger vendor-management to handle complexity.
For ecosystem: success would boost credibility of Open RAN at scale in Europe, possibly influencing other operators’ strategies.
For risk management: large-scale vendor transition involves operational risk (integration issues, performance parity, supply-chain complexity) — Deutsche Telekom is acknowledging this by saying “we are already transforming today”. (TelecomTV)

Comments / Observations

It is unusual for a large incumbent operator to issue an RFQ of this size tied explicitly to open/disaggregated RAN – so this is a noteworthy move.
However the earlier phase (3,000 sites) has already had delays/slippage (noted in industry commentary) so execution risk is real. (Light Reading)
The “change in operating model” commentary signals that this is not simply a hardware refresh but a transformation of how RAN is procured, deployed and run. That means vendors will likely need to support orchestration, AI/automation, open-interfaces beyond just radio equipment.
Given the size (30k sites) and multi-country footprint of Deutsche Telekom, this RFQ may include both domestic (Germany) and international markets – though that’s not explicit.
For bidders: they should prepare for open RAN interoperability requirements, multi-vendor integration, and possible embedding of services/features (software, AI, automation).

Here is a detailed case-study-style summary of the Deutsche Telekom AG (DT) RFQ for ~30,000 RAN sites, plus commentary on implications, risks and strategic context.

What we know

From a recent article in TelecomTV:

Deutsche Telekom plans to issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for ~30,000 radio access network (RAN) sites at the beginning of 2026. (TelecomTV)
The RFQ will include “Open RAN as part of the mix”. (TelecomTV)
This follows a prior rollout phase of more than 3,000 Open RAN sites in Germany. (TelecomTV)
DT states that the magnitude of the RFQ “brings us… to a change in the operating model … change in how we are managing our networks”. (TelecomTV)
DT is developing its own SMO (Service Management & Orchestration) and RIC (RAN Intelligent Controller) environment as part of the multi-vendor Open RAN rollout. (TelecomTV)
DT’s earlier pilot programme (“O-RAN Town”, in Neubrandenburg) provided important learnings on multi-vendor Open RAN in a brown-field network. (Telekom)
DT has published its “Technical Priorities” for Open RAN, available publicly. (Telekom)

Case Study: Key Elements

Pilot phase – “O-RAN Town”

DT established a pilot multi-vendor Open RAN deployment in Neubrandenburg, Germany. (Telekom)
The goal: test open fronthaul, hardware/software decoupling (virtualised baseband), automation frameworks (SMO), multi-vendor integration in a live brown-field network.
Learnings: DT concluded that while multi-vendor Open RAN is viable, “the current open RAN readiness vis-à-vis all DT architectural and performance requirements does not yet allow for immediate large-scale deployment”.
The pilot helped refine DT’s requirement-setting, architecture and vendor evaluation criteria. (Telekom)

Large-scale upcoming RFQ (~30k sites)

The RFQ is significantly larger in scale—~30,000 sites versus the initial ~3,000 pilot sites. This jump indicates DT is moving from proof-of-concept into a serious scale-up.
The scope: though not fully detailed publicly, the timing of the RFQ beginning Jan 2026 suggests that DT wants to deploy across multiple markets (potentially beyond Germany) and integrate Open RAN as part of its procurement strategy. (TelecomTV)
The change in operating model: DT emphasises that this is not just hardware replacement — it involves network management transformation (SMO/RIC, automation, multi-vendor orchestration). As DT’s Thomas Lips commented: “We are developing our own SMO… we are already transforming today”. (TelecomTV)

Vendor / Technology Implications

The Open RAN technical priorities document published by DT (and other operators) provides a framework of requirements: open interfaces (O-RU/DU/CU), cloud native, multi-vendor interoperability, programmability, automation. (Telekom)
DT emphasises energy efficiency, security and maturity as key themes. (Telekom)
Vendor ecosystem: DT’s earlier pilot involved multiple vendors (Mavenir, Dell Technologies, Intel, NEC, Fujitsu) in the “O-RAN Town” programme. (Telekom)

Strategic Comments & Observations

Strengths & Opportunities

Scale and ambition: A 30k-site RFQ is a meaningful signal of commitment to Open RAN at scale, not just pilot.
Vendor flexibility / supply-chain resilience: By moving to multi-vendor Open RAN, DT can reduce dependency on legacy single-vendor RAN deployments and drive more competition.
Operational transformation: The shift to SMO/RIC and orchestration points to future networks that are more programmable, cloud-native and automated. That can enable faster service roll-out, slicing, dynamic capacity and potentially lower cost of ownership.
Ecosystem leadership: As one of Europe’s largest operators, DT’s large scale adoption creates market momentum for Open RAN, possibly lowering vendor prices, accelerating maturity.

Risks & Challenges

Technology maturity: DT’s own pilot found that Open RAN readiness did not yet meet all of its performance/architecture requirements when tested under real brown-field conditions.
Execution complexity: Scaling from 3k to 30k sites means major deployment, integration, vendor coordination, operations changes. Multi-vendor orchestration is complex.
Operating model change: DT needs to not just buy new hardware, but change how it manages the RAN, orchestrates multi-vendor pods, uses automation – this can involve significant organisational and process change.
Legacy vendor transition / risk of disruption: Replacing or augmenting incumbent equipment (for example, some sites still use Huawei or other legacy vendors) may cause logistical, compatibility and risk issues. For example, one article noted DT’s open RAN plan had slipped partly due to Huawei considerations. (Light Reading)
Scope ambiguity / timing: While the RFQ is announced, the exact geography, site types (macro vs small cell), lot structure, performance/hardware requirements are not yet public. That introduces uncertainty for vendors and investors.

Broader Impact

Vendor market ripple: As DT moves ahead, majors such as Nokia Corporation are already winning contracts (e.g., ~3,000-site deal) for DT’s Open RAN rollout. (GlobeNewswire) This suggests the vendor ecosystem is beginning to respond.
Ecosystem momentum: With major European operators (including DT) publishing technical priorities and collaborating under MoUs, the Open RAN ecosystem is gaining legitimacy. (Telekom)
Cost / innovation dynamic: Open RAN promises to lower TCO, enable new vendor entrants, accelerate innovation in RAN software and services (automation, slicing, edge, RIC/rApps).
Geopolitical / strategic dimension: For Europe, reducing vendor-lock and dependency (especially on single large vendors) supports supply-chain resilience and policy goals (e.g., local digital sovereignty) — well aligned with DT’s strategy.

Key Takeaways for Vendors / Industry Players

If you’re a vendor: Prepare for large-scale RAN procurement cycles with open interfaces, virtualised baseband, RIC/SMO integration, proven multi-vendor interoperability and energy/security metrics.
If you’re a network operator: DT’s approach shows that before full-scale deployment you must validate readiness (performance, interoperability), build orchestration/control software, and align operations and vendor ecosystems.
For investors/analysts: Watch vendor exposure to Open RAN, scale-up risks, vendor transitions (especially incumbents vs new entrants), and network operator readiness (skills, process, capability).
For policy/regulators: Large-scale Open RAN roll-outs can shift competitive dynamics in telecom equipment markets, support digital sovereignty goals, but require oversight on security, energy, interoperability and integration risk.

Some Additional Observations / Caveats

While the RFQ is announced for 30k sites, this does not necessarily mean all will be purely Open RAN — DT says “Open RAN as part of the mix”. (TelecomTV)
The previous target of 3,000 Open RAN sites by end of 2026 has been reported to slip to 2027. (Light Reading)
The geography is not explicitly limited to Germany — the 30k-site RFQ could span multiple DT group markets in Europe. That increases complexity (regulation, vendor availability, site types).
Cost/value numbers have not been published publicly, so market sizing and commercial terms remain speculative.