Ericsson will be Vodafone’s sole RAN vendor in Ireland, the Netherlands, and Portugal, and a key vendor in Germany, Romania, and Egypt, deepening their partnership to enhance network performance and operational efficiency

Vodafone has signed a five-year strategic partnership with Ericsson to modernize its radio access network (RAN) infrastructure across several key markets. The collaboration will use Ericsson’s high-performance, programmable network solutions to enhance Vodafone’s infrastructure and lay the groundwork for future technologies, including 5G Standalone and AI-powered automation.

Under the agreement, Ericsson will become Vodafone’s sole RAN vendor in Ireland, the Netherlands, and Portugal, and serve as a major vendor in Germany, Romania, and Egypt. The move further deepens the long-standing partnership between the two companies, aimed at transforming network performance and operational efficiency.

Laying the foundation for 5G standalone and AI integration

The modernization project will enable Vodafone to accelerate the rollout of 5G Standalone (5G SA) technology—offering ultra-low latency and guaranteed performance for both consumer and enterprise use cases.

As part of the agreement, Vodafone will deploy Ericsson’s Open RAN-compatible Massive MIMO radios, RAN Compute solutions, and 5G Advanced software capabilities across its networks. These technologies are designed to enable more flexible and efficient management of traffic and services, allowing Vodafone to meet growing customer demands in real time.

AI-driven automation and energy efficiency

A central feature of the partnership is the introduction of the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform and a suite of AI-powered rApps. These applications will be deployed progressively across Vodafone’s markets, enhancing RAN optimization, improving energy efficiency, and supporting multi-vendor network management.

Germany will be the first country to implement the automation platform and rApps, with deployment starting in Q4 2025. This rollout marks the first phase of a broader strategy to evolve Vodafone’s network towards autonomous operation.

Executive commentary: Enabling the networks of the future

“This strategic partnership with Ericsson marks a significant step in our network evolution journey,” said Alberto Ripepi, Chief Network Officer at Vodafone Group. “By modernizing our network with the latest generation equipment and embracing new 5G Advanced capabilities, we’re transforming our infrastructure to deliver the best customer experience and high efficiency. We’re also laying the foundation to expose our network capabilities via APIs, driving a wave of application innovation through our Aduna joint venture.”

Patrick Johansson, Senior Vice President and Head of Market Area Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Ericsson, added: “We are proud to expand our long-standing relationship with Vodafone. This agreement aligns with our vision of high-performing programmable networks and opens new opportunities for service monetization across both consumer and enterprise segments.”

Toward autonomous and programmable networks

Vodafone will further enhance its infrastructure by integrating Ericsson’s 5G Advanced software, designed to use AI and automation for intelligent, real-time network management. This will improve device performance, reduce energy consumption, and enable differentiated connectivity services, creating new revenue streams.

By embracing programmable network architectures and forward-looking technologies, the partnership positions Vodafone as a frontrunner in global telecom innovation—ready to meet future demands and lead the development of next-generation network services.