As fifth-generation wireless technology transitions from development to practical implementation across the mobile sector – though widespread consumer access is still evolving – businesses assisting mobile carriers with this complex transition are gaining increased recognition.

Recently, Cellwize, a company that has developed a platform for automating and optimizing data management for carriers operating 5G networks in diverse vendor environments, secured $32 million in funding. These funds will be allocated to further expand the company’s geographic reach and to invest in research and development, enhancing the capabilities of its core CHIME platform.

This funding round is significant due to the caliber of the participating investors and the demonstrable progress Cellwize has already achieved.

The Series B funding is jointly led by Intel Capital and Qualcomm Ventures LLC, with contributions from Verizon Ventures (a division of Verizon, which also owns TechCrunch through Verizon Media) and Samsung Next, alongside existing shareholders. These shareholders include Deutsche Telekom and Sonae, a Portuguese conglomerate with interests in retail, financial services, telecommunications, and other sectors.

This investment reflects Cellwize’s growth trajectory. The company, headquartered in Israel with additional operations in Dallas and Singapore, currently serves approximately 40 mobile carriers – including Verizon and Telefonica – across 16 countries, managing 3 million cell sites and supporting 800 million subscribers.

Cellwize has not disclosed its current valuation, but it has raised a total of $56.5 million in funding to date.

5G technology presents substantial opportunities for carriers, their suppliers, device manufacturers, and the broader mobile ecosystem. The expectation is that faster and more efficient wireless data speeds will enable new services, applications, and revenue streams for both consumers and businesses, extending beyond personal use to encompass the Internet of Things (IoT) networks.

Despite some expressed concerns regarding potential health risks – many of which have been disproven over time – a key technical challenge in implementing 5G lies in its complexity.

The transition can be both expensive and demanding, largely because carriers need to deploy a greater number of base stations at closer intervals, and because they will likely operate hybrid systems within the Radio Access Network (RAN, which governs device connectivity to carrier networks). They will also be responsible for managing older network technologies (such as 2G, 3G, 4G, and LTE) concurrently with 5G, while collaborating with multiple vendors within the 5G ecosystem itself.

Cellwize positions its CHIME platform – an all-inclusive solution leveraging artificial intelligence and cloud technology – as a facilitator for carriers to adopt a more open and flexible operational approach characteristic of the shift to 5G. The platform handles the configuration of new 5G networks, data optimization and monitoring, and provides application programming interfaces (APIs) for third-party developer integration.

“While established companies have historically dominated the RAN market, 5G is fundamentally altering how the entire mobile industry functions,” stated Ofir Zemer, CEO of Cellwize. “Traditional vendors typically offer solutions that are limited to their own equipment, restricting third-party connectivity and creating a closed ecosystem. However, major operators are seeking independence from single vendors – both technologically and commercially – as they recognize this as a barrier to innovation.”

Cellwize delivers an open platform that enables carriers to plan, deploy, and manage the RAN within a multi-vendor environment. “We are experiencing significant demand for our solution, and as 5G deployments continue to expand globally, we anticipate continued growth in demand for our product,” he added.

Zemer previously noted that carriers traditionally developed their own internal tools for managing RAN data, but these systems “are not equipped to support 5G.”

The competitive dynamic is underscored by the fact that both Intel and Qualcomm – competitors in several areas – are investing in this funding round, highlighting Cellwize’s position as a neutral party in mobile architecture. It also demonstrates that both companies see value in seamless and robust integrations with its technology, given the priorities of their respective carrier clients.

“Intel technologies have been crucial in enabling the communications industry to transform networks with agile and scalable infrastructure over the past decade,” said David Flanagan, VP and senior MD at Intel Capital, in a statement. “Given the complexities of managing radio access networks, we are encouraged by Cellwize’s potential to leverage its AI-driven automation capabilities as Intel brings the benefits of cloud architectures to service provider and private networks.”

“Qualcomm is a leader in 5G expansion, developing a comprehensive ecosystem of technologies that will drive the next generation of connectivity,” added Merav Weinryb, Senior Director of Qualcomm Israel Ltd. and MD of Qualcomm Ventures Israel and Europe. “As a leader in RAN automation and orchestration, Cellwize plays a vital role in 5G deployment. We are pleased to support Cellwize through the Qualcomm Ventures’ 5G global ecosystem fund as they scale and accelerate 5G adoption worldwide.”

The central point is that, currently, fully realized 5G deployments remain limited, and some reports suggest that the hype surrounding 5G may exceed the current reality. However, Zemer – who has been with the company since 2013, though not as a co-founder – participates in meetings with carriers and believes a significant shift is imminent.

“Within the next five years, approximately 75% of mobile connections will be powered by 5G, and 2.6 billion 5G mobile subscriptions will serve 65% of the world’s population,” he predicted. “While 5G technology offers immense potential, it is also exceptionally complex, encompassing multiple technologies, architectures, frequency bands, layers, and RAN/vRAN providers. We are collaborating with network operators globally to address the challenges of deploying and managing these next-generation networks by automating their entire RAN processes, enabling them to successfully deliver 5G to their customers.”