Photo: Palo Alto Networks

Dish Network selected Palo Alto Networks as the cloud security services provider for its OpenRAN-based 5G wireless network in the United States. Dish’s 5G network will utilize Palo Alto Networks’ VM-series and CN-series firewalls, as well as its Prisma Cloud security platform, which includes network slicing, real-time threat correlation and dynamic security enforcement features.

“5G promises much more than increased browsing speeds on mobile devices,” Palo Alto Networks’ Chief Product Officer Lee Klarich said in a statement. “When built as a secure network, 5G can bring massive business transformation and enable smart supply chains, autonomous transportation, smart manufacturing, mass adoption of the Internet of Things [IoT] and much more.”

Dish’s cloud services provider is Altiostar, which signed a multi-year partnership agreement in July 2020. Altiostar is developing Dish’s OpenRAN network to utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning and enable 4G and 5G applications.

Dish is working to meet an FCC commitment to deploy a facilities-based 5G broadband network capable of serving 70% of the U.S. population by June 2023.