Johannesburg: AfricUpdate – News Desk
Ericsson and Vodafone, one of the world’s leading telecommunications companies, have announced a five-year strategic partnership to modernize Vodafone’s network footprint using Ericsson’s high-performing programmable network solutions across several key markets. Ericsson will be Vodafone’s sole RAN vendor in Ireland, Netherlands, and Portugal, as well as a major vendor in Germany, Romania, and Egypt.
This move further deepens the long-standing, strategic relationship between the two companies. The modernization of Vodafone’s RAN infrastructure and management will lay the foundation for widespread deployment of 5G Standalone, enabling Vodafone to offer differentiated connectivity solutions with guaranteed, performance-based characteristics for their consumer and enterprise customers.
Under the partnership, Vodafone will deploy Ericsson’s state-of-the-art and Open RAN-compatible Massive MIMO radios and RAN Compute solutions, as well as 5G Advanced RAN software capabilities extensively across their networks in these markets. The pan-European deal introduces Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform and a number of AI-powered rApps which will be deployed market-by-market to deliver automated RAN optimization, energy efficiency, and management of the multi-vendor network.
Germany will be the first market to deploy the platform and rApps for Ericsson and multi-vendor RAN management, with work beginning in Q4 2025. The comprehensive AI and network evolution partnership will elevate Vodafone’s infrastructure to world-class standards, taking the first steps towards autonomous networks and ensuring their networks are at the forefront of technological advancement and capable of meeting future demands.
Vodafone will further enhance its network infrastructure by using Ericsson 5G Advanced RAN software solutions that employ AI and automation to enable intelligent, real-time network management, improve operational and energy efficiency, deliver superior device and network performance, and create opportunities for new revenue streams through differentiated connectivity services.
By embracing high-performing programmable network architectures, this partnership sets the stage for accelerated innovation and the development of new use cases across Vodafone’s markets. This forward-looking approach will ensure Vodafone’s network infrastructure is fit for the future and adaptable to emerging technologies, solidifying the company’s position as a leader in the global telecommunications landscape.
