Spectrum Quay Research
RAN Award RegisterNo. 9 · October 2026
RAN Award Register · GlobalData to 30 September 2026
Europe's replacement programmes drive September awards
We recorded 23 operator awards in September, 14 of them in Europe. Two operators confirmed Open RAN conversions covering 11,000 sites
1September awards by region
September was the busiest month for awards this year. Europe supplied 14 of the 23, as operators in four countries placed radio contracts to meet national deadlines for removing equipment from high risk vendors.1
| Region | RAN | Core | Open RAN | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 9 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
| North America | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Asia Pacific | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Middle East and Africa | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Latin America | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| All regions | 16 | 5 | 2 | 23 |
Source: operator and vendor announcements, EU Tenders Electronic Daily notices, national regulator decisions, FCC Secure Networks Act filings, Spectrum Quay Research register
Source: operator and vendor announcements, EU Tenders Electronic Daily notices, national regulator decisions, FCC Secure Networks Act filings, Spectrum Quay Research register
2Selected awards
The largest award of the month is a 6,500 site radio swap at a German national operator. A US regional carrier also drew funds from the federal reimbursement programme to begin replacing 1,200 sites.
| Operator | Country | Type | Scope | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National operator | Germany | RAN swap | 6,500 sites | Signed |
| Mobile operator | Spain | Open RAN | 7,000 sites | Signed |
| Incumbent operator | Portugal | Core | 5G standalone | Signed |
| Challenger operator | Netherlands | Open RAN | 4,000 sites | Trial to rollout |
| Regional carrier | United States | RAN swap | 1,200 sites | Funds drawn |
Source: operator and vendor announcements, regulator and FCC filings, September 2026
3Open RAN conversions
The Spanish and Dutch conversions add 11,000 sites, taking the year's announced Open RAN conversions to 31,500 sites against 9,500 at the same point in 2025. Both use a single integrator for radio units from more than one supplier.2
Source: operator and vendor announcements, EU Tenders Electronic Daily notices, national regulator decisions, FCC Secure Networks Act filings, Spectrum Quay Research register
4Against our Market Share Report
5What to watch in October
Award decisions in two Nordic replacement tenders that closed in August, the first Open RAN purchase orders under the Spanish agreement, and the next FCC update on reimbursement funds drawn by US carriers.
How this register is built
- An award is recorded when an operator, vendor, tender notice or regulator names the supplier and the scope
- Site counts are taken as announced and marked where an operator gives only a contract value
- Every award links to its dated source, held on file for subscribers who ask
Approved for subscribersHélène MarchettiPrincipal Analyst, Mobile Networks · 7 October 2026
1 Awards include new contracts and extensions that add sites or change the supplier. Renewals on unchanged terms are not counted.
2 An Open RAN conversion is counted when the operator commits to deploy, not when a trial begins.