Ranplan Wireless

What Ranplan Wireless does

Ranplan Wireless, founded in 2006 by Prof. Jie Zhang, Joyce Wu, and Hui Song out of UK university research projects, develops software for planning and optimizing heterogeneous wireless networks (4G/5G, Wi-Fi, IoT, TETRA, P25) across indoor, outdoor, and combined HetNet scenarios. Its core product, Ranplan Professional, runs on the proprietary Maxwell propagation engine, a deterministic vector-based ray launching/tracing model designed for 5G mmWave and cloud-native cluster computing, and integrates with BIM/IFC authoring tools (Revit, ArchiCAD, Navisworks, SketchUp, Tekla) and OpenUSD to import building geometry for 3D simulation. Supporting products (Ranplan In-Building, In-Building Lite, Tablet, Viewer, Academic) address field, lighter-weight, and educational use cases, while the 2024 release added RIS device modelling for 6G preparation and energy consumption planning for green networks.

The business is a pure-software licensing model with gross margins consistently reported at 96–99%; revenue is generated through one-time software licenses plus recurring Annual Maintenance and Support subscriptions, supplemented by EU and Innovate UK funded research projects (e.g., WAVECOMBE, BANYAN, COCKPIT 5G). Go-to-market is a hybrid of direct enterprise sales and a global channel of regional resellers (Marubun in Japan, Tricomtek in South Korea, Massilatech/Metco in the Middle East, Magna Systems in APAC) and system integrators (CTS LLC, DPJJ LLC, Engineering Wireless Services). Customers are primarily telecom operators, network equipment vendors (Huawei, TEOCO), and large enterprises deploying private networks; the parent entity, Ranplan Group AB, is publicly listed on Nasdaq First North Stockholm (ticker: RPLAN) since June 2018, with its head office in Stockholm, Sweden, and primary R&D in Cambridge, UK.

Name

Ranplan Wireless

Legal name

Ranplan Group AB (publ)

Website

https://ranplanwireless.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ranplan Wireless develops software for planning and optimizing 4G, 5G, and HetNet wireless networks across indoor and outdoor environments, using proprietary 3D ray-tracing simulation. It primarily serves telecom operators, network equipment vendors, and enterprises deploying private or large-venue networks globally via a reseller and system-integrator channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wireless Network Planning Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Wireless Networking Services (Wi‑Fi, Private LTE/5G) (BPAEAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

vRAN & Open RAN Platforms (CU/DU, RIC, xApps/rApps) (HDAIAIAA), Carrier & Public Venue Wi‑Fi (Hotspot/Passpoint/NGH) (HDAFACAI)

Keywords

• Wireless network planning
• Radio propagation simulation
• 5G network design
• Indoor network optimization
• HetNet planning software

Headquarters

HQ city

Papworth Everard

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: Pure licensing nature of business model with gross margins at 96-99%, reflecting pure software licensing revenue. Licenses sold with various product tiers including Professional, In-Building, In-Building Lite, Academic, Tablet, and Viewer.
2. Annual Maintenance and Support (AMS): Annual maintenance and support services providing software updates, major yearly upgrades, and regular enhancement updates throughout the year. Entitles customers to minimum one major yearly upgrade.
3. Research Projects: EU and Innovate UK funded research projects providing additional income streams. Includes projects like WAVECOMBE (€2.8M EU-funded), BANYAN (EUR 1.4M), CORRELATION, and COCKPIT 5G.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ranplan Wireless develops and sells software for planning, designing, simulating and optimizing wireless networks. Its flagship Ranplan Professional platform uses 3D ray-tracing and the proprietary Maxwell propagation engine to plan coordinated indoor and outdoor heterogeneous networks (HetNets) for 4G LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi, IoT, and public safety deployments. The product family also includes Ranplan In-Building, In-Building Lite, Academic, Tablet and Viewer editions, plus Design Services for professional RF planning engagements.

Product overview

Ranplan Wireless offers a unified platform-plus-modules architecture for wireless network planning software. The core product is Ranplan Professional, which provides combined indoor and outdoor network planning in a single platform using 3D ray-tracing simulations. Supporting products include Ranplan In-Building for focused indoor planning, In-Building Lite for simpler projects, Tablet for mobile field use, Viewer for read-only access, and Academic for educational institutions. The portfolio is powered by the Maxwell propagation engine for advanced RF modeling. Flexible licensing plans (perpetual and subscription) provide access to the full suite. Professional services complement the software offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ranplan Professional: Primary software platform for designing indoor and outdoor wireless networks in a single platform with unmatched accuracy in modeling complex environments
• Ranplan Maxwell
• iBuildNet

Products and services

• Ranplan Professional Industry-leading wireless network planning software for designing indoor and outdoor wireless networks in a single platform. Uses 3D ray-tracing simulations to model signal interactions in complex environments, with HetNet, 5G NR, BIM/IFC import, and AI-driven optimization. Targeted at telecom operators, system integrators and large enterprises.
• Ranplan In-Building High-performance indoor wireless network design tool for efficiently planning wireless coverage across diverse indoor spaces (offices, hospitals, warehouses, large venues), aimed at reducing deployment cost and time.
• Ranplan In-Building Lite Streamlined, lower-complexity version of Ranplan In-Building for simpler indoor wireless network planning projects where full HetNet or outdoor coordination is not required.
• Ranplan Academic Educational license edition of Ranplan software designed for academic institutions and research use, including teaching and 5G/6G research.
• Ranplan Tablet Mobile-optimized version of Ranplan software intended for field use and on-site network planning assessments.
• Ranplan Viewer Read-only viewing application for reviewing and sharing Ranplan network planning projects without requiring a full software license.
• Ranplan Design Services Professional services offering expert wireless network design, optimization, and project management delivered by Ranplan's engineering team to operators, system integrators and enterprises.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% boost in network design productivity
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability9 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Magna SystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Market leader in providing comprehensive and innovative RF solutions in the Asia Pacific region, expanding Ranplan's presence in APAC.
• Engineering Wireless Services (EWS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020Selected as Preferred Software Partner for all HetNet deployments, demonstrating Ranplan's software leadership in heterogeneous network planning.
• University of WarwickminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Joint research partner in COCKPIT 5G project - government funded 5G and AI research project investigating black-spots in UK to support and optimise 5G roll-out for AI, driverless cars and manufacturing.
• TricomtekcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Seoul-based company signed reseller agreement to sell Ranplan software solutions into the South Korean market, supporting ongoing activities in the country.
• Massilatech (Metco Group)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Strategic reseller partnership with one of the largest telecommunications groups in the Middle East with offices in Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Strong relationships with all operators in the region.
• CTS LLCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Preferred System Integrator relationship with one of the larger system integrators in the US. Procured licenses from Ranplan to deliver RF planning services to their clients.
• DPJJ LLC (Wireless Services)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Preferred System Integrator relationship. Procured licenses from Ranplan to deliver RF planning services to their clients.
• China Unicom Network Technology Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Selected as preferred supplier of indoor radio design tools. Initial purchase order of approximately USD 400k with strong partnership for future collaboration in China market.
• University of CambridgeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Research partner in EU-H2020 BANYAN project (EUR 1.4 million) focusing on network slicing for programmable 5G networks. Partnership with CNR of Italy, IMDEA Networks of Spain, and Orange Labs of France.
• O-RAN AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Joined O-RAN alliance in October 2019 to help spur innovation and automation in an environment marked by open interfaces and multi-vendor interoperability.
• Marubun CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Tokyo-based company signed as reseller to sell Ranplan software solutions into the Japanese market. Secured significant order of USD 2.5 million (SEK 22.5 million) for deployment by mobile operator in Japan, creating solid platform for continued revenue growth.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• iBwave (Corning): iBwave is the most direct competitor in in-building and indoor wireless network planning, with a strong footprint among enterprises, venues, and system integrators. It is comparable to Ranplan Professional in the indoor segment, though Ranplan differentiates on coordinated indoor-outdoor planning.
• Forsk (Atoll): Forsk's Atoll is a leading radio network planning and optimization software widely used by mobile operators for outdoor and indoor networks. It is the most direct competitor to Ranplan in operator-grade HetNet and 5G NR planning workflows.
• TEOCO: TEOCO is named as both a partner and competing supplier of outdoor planning tools; its HELIO platform covers radio planning, optimization, and assurance. Directly comparable to Ranplan for operator customers planning 5G rollouts.
• Infovista (Planet Network): Infovista's Planet Network suite provides radio planning, optimization, and automated assurance for 4G/5G networks, with comparable propagation modeling and SON-style automation. Competes with Ranplan in operator 5G planning workflows.
• Remcom (Wireless InSite): Remcom offers Wireless InSite, a 3D ray-tracing propagation and radio planning tool used for indoor, urban, and vehicular wireless scenarios. Directly comparable to Ranplan Maxwell on the underlying ray-tracing/propagation engine.
• EDX Wireless (PCTEL): EDX Wireless (a PCTEL company) provides professional radio propagation and network planning software (SignalPro) for both indoor and outdoor networks. Directly comparable to Ranplan Professional across Wi-Fi, LTE, and 5G planning use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Ericsson (Network Design & Optimization): Ericsson offers its own network design and optimization tooling as part of its broader RAN portfolio, and Ranplan's CEO previously worked at Ericsson. Although typically bundled, it overlaps with Ranplan's offering for operator customers.
• Huawei (iMaster NCE / planning tools): Huawei is both a customer/partner of Ranplan and a vendor of comprehensive 5G planning and optimization software within its iMaster portfolio. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping planning capabilities.
• Ansys (HFSS / Electromagnetic Suite): Ansys HFSS and the broader Electromagnetic Suite provide high-fidelity electromagnetic simulation including for 5G mmWave, RIS, and antenna design. Comparable as a broad incumbent simulation platform, though typically used in component/system design rather than full HetNet deployment planning.

Emerging players

• Airspan Networks: Airspan is a small cell and private 4G/5G network vendor that increasingly relies on planning tools like Ranplan's to design dense, indoor, and private deployments. Comparable as a deployment-side partner/ecosystem participant for Ranplan's planning software.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ranplan
• Facebookfacebook.com/ranplanltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ranplan-wireless-network-design-ltd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ranplan Wireless