Vodafone has reaffirmed its dedication to Open RAN networks by announcing its collaboration with Intel to develop purpose-built chipset architecture for this emerging technology.
In a significant step, the European operator revealed that it has conducted its first 4G calls using Open RAN on network sites it shares with Orange in Romania. Additionally, Vodafone is partnering with Nokia to pilot Open RAN technology in Italy.
Open RAN offers mobile operators the flexibility to mix and match equipment from various suppliers, potentially enhancing operational versatility. However, progress in this field has been gradual, and the market continues to be dominated by proprietary solutions offered by companies such as Ericsson, Nokia, and Huawei (although Huawei faces restrictions in some countries).
In 2022, Vodafone entered into a partnership with US chipmaker Intel to explore the design of its own chip architecture. Santiago Tenorio, Vodafone’s Director of Network Architecture, confirmed that these chipsets would be jointly created at their facility in Malaga, Spain. These chipsets will be made available to smaller third-party vendors, allowing them to test their algorithms without significant financial investment in silicon.
Tenorio explained that the capability to produce silicon designs in test quantities would significantly expedite the innovation delivery process. He stated, “Combining Vodafone’s networking expertise with Intel’s strength in silicon architecture design will enable rapid prototyping, verification, and testing, eventually leading to faster mass production of the chips needed to drive industry progress.”
Recently, Vodafone and Orange announced the successful completion of 4G calls using Open RAN technology at several sites in a rural area near Bucharest. This pilot project utilized hardware and software from Samsung, Wind River, and Dell.
In Italy, Vodafone is collaborating with Nokia to demonstrate that Nokia’s Open RAN solution can match the functionality and performance of purpose-built RAN systems.
