Vodafone Group Plc (LSE:VOD) and Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) have unveiled a new five-year strategic partnership focused on upgrading Vodafone’s network infrastructure in key European markets, advancing its 5G capabilities and network performance.
Under the agreement, Ericsson will become Vodafone’s exclusive radio access network (RAN) supplier in Ireland, the Netherlands, and Portugal, while retaining a key vendor position in Germany, Romania, and Egypt.
The initiative is designed to strengthen Vodafone’s position as a global leader in network innovation, leveraging Ericsson’s cutting-edge 5G technology to deliver faster, more efficient connectivity and enable 5G Standalone networks.
Vodafone will deploy Ericsson’s advanced Massive MIMO radios and RAN Compute solutions, which are compatible with Open RAN standards, alongside the company’s 5G Advanced RAN software to enhance network flexibility and capacity.
A core part of the collaboration includes integrating the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform and AI-powered applications to enable automated network optimization, energy savings, and efficient multi-vendor RAN management.
Germany will serve as the first launch market for the platform and rApps, with implementation expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025.
This announcement follows Vodafone’s SEK 12.5 billion, eight-year partnership with Ericsson in September to support the rollout of its next-generation mobile network in the UK, further deepening the relationship between the two companies.
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