To address the growing need for faster, more energy-efficient mobile connectivity, Vodafone is partnering with Arm to accelerate the creation of platforms for Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN).
Using Arm architecture, Vodafone intends to develop platforms tailored for Open RAN base stations, ensuring these systems deliver the compute capacity required for advanced 5G services. Built on industry-standard servers and designed in line with Open RAN principles, these processor platforms aim to deliver notable gains in energy efficiency while meeting increasing performance demands.
The collaboration goes beyond hardware development.
Both companies say they are committed to fostering a competitive ecosystem for Open RAN chipsets and related software. As part of that effort, they plan to offer testing and verification support to smaller vendors, helping broaden supplier choices and enable a more diverse supply chain for next-generation networks.
Vodafone is already collaborating with specialist system and silicon companies SynaXG and Ampere Computing to test and validate Arm-based Open RAN silicon. Fujitsu will provide the RAN software stack for integration and evaluation.
Testing is scheduled to begin later this year within vendor laboratories to validate the integration of compute platforms and silicon. The programme will then incorporate Fujitsu’s commercial 5G Open RAN software before progressing to Vodafone’s advanced test facilities in Málaga, Spain, and Newbury, UK, in the first quarter of 2024.
Santiago Tenorio, Director of Network Architecture at Vodafone, commented:
“Vodafone’s Open RAN leadership, combined with the power efficiency of Arm-based architecture, will broaden the chip and software ecosystem.
By increasing the number of competing, best-in-class suppliers, we can drive greater innovation, energy efficiency, and security for the benefit of our customers.”
Vodafone and Arm plan to share the results of this partnership with the wider industry, helping transform networks into disaggregated, open platforms that enable further innovation rather than remaining closed communication systems.
(Photo by Matthew Buchanan on Unsplash)
See also: Vodafone and Orange complete calls using Open RAN shared network
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