Vodafone UK revealed plans to deploy open RAN in 2,600 network sites by 2027, in a major commitment to using the technology to replace a large chunk of Huawei’s equipment, which it has been ordered to strip out by the government.
(Mobile World Live, November 2)
Gareth Owen's key takeaways:
- Other UK MNOs have downplayed open RAN, but Vodafone is one of the most vocal advocates of the technology.
- Although the operator has decided to limit deployments to the most rural area, it is still a significant commitment to open RAN if it ultimately deploys to all 2,600 sites.
- No news on vendors but with Vodafone keen to avoid established vendors, US vRAN software company Mavenir must fancy its chances, while Qualcomm and maybe Xylinx are strong candidates on the chip side.