Contrary to what Biden suggests, open RAN is not a US technology, merely a set of interfaces (developed with Chinese support) that might boost competition in the oligopolistic market for radio access network (RAN) products. 'This new technology solution for 5G, called open RAN, will outcompete other platforms, including from China,' said Biden.īut the statement is as controversial as the fist-bump that preceded it. It is significant because Saudi Arabia, like most other countries, today faces a limited choice of suppliers led by Sweden's Ericsson, China's Huawei and Finland's Nokia. But there was a curious telecom sidebar to the story.īesides discussing energy, Biden claimed to have secured a commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in US technologies for new 5G and future 6G networks. Realpolitik still trumps ethics.īiden was visiting Saudi Arabia last week mainly to negotiate oil production following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The other fist belongs to Joe Biden, America's supposedly right-on president.

The fist-bump has become the COVID-safe, socially responsible alternative to the handshake.īut it loses its symbolism when one of the fists looks as bloodstained as that of Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince believed by US intelligence to have ordered the murder and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post daringly critical of Saudi Arabia's rulers.

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