Vodafone has announced it will deploy 5G equipment from smaller OpenRAN vendors at around one-fifth of its sites in the UK starting in 2027.
OpenRAN is an industry initiative to define radio access network (RAN) solutions that are interoperable, easier for operators to integrate, and, crucially, vendor-neutral. By enabling components from different suppliers to work together, OpenRAN aims to increase competition and allow new vendors to enter the market with solutions that challenge the dominance of a few large manufacturers.
Vodafone UK has been a long-standing supporter of OpenRAN and has participated in the project’s working group since 2017, contributing to standards and specifications. The OpenRAN units currently under test in Vodafone’s labs are 4G-only, but the operator plans to evolve those trials and transition to 5G-capable equipment over the coming years.
“You have to walk before you can run,” said Daniel Shannon, a specialist design expert at Vodafone UK, in June. He added that because 4G networks carry less traffic and support fewer simultaneous connections than 5G, it makes sense to design, test, and trial OpenRAN in the less demanding 4G environment first.
Vodafone has now reinforced its OpenRAN commitment by pledging to install kit from smaller vendors on at least 2,600 of its masts and rooftops across the UK from 2027. This is the largest such commitment announced by any European carrier to date.
The move follows the UK government’s decision to ban Huawei equipment from national telecoms networks, a policy that raised concerns among operators about reduced supplier choice and higher costs for 5G rollouts. OpenRAN is viewed as a way to stimulate competition and diversify supplier options.
A UK government task force established to manage the removal of Huawei’s equipment highlighted OpenRAN as a strategic growth opportunity for the country. “The UK could regain a foothold which it hasn’t had since the break-up of Marconi,” said Scott Petty, CTO at Vodafone UK, referring to the decline of the historic British telecom firm.
In July, the UK began consultations with allied nations — particularly those in the Five Eyes security partnership and other democratic “D10” countries — about funding and procuring alternatives to Huawei’s equipment. The goal is to coordinate investment and support for a more diverse supplier base.
Not everyone agrees that removing a major supplier automatically improves security. Scott Jones, head of Canada’s Centre for Cyber Security, warned in 2018 that narrowing the field of vendors can reduce overall security because compromises affecting one of the remaining suppliers would have broader impact across networks.
Despite differing views on risk, manufacturers of OpenRAN equipment appear well positioned to benefit from operators’ desire for greater vendor diversity. As telecom operators look to mitigate reliance on a small number of suppliers, demand for interoperable, multi-vendor RAN solutions is expected to grow.
(Image Credit: Vodafone)
Interested in industry discussions on these topics? Events such as 5G Expo, IoT Tech Expo, Blockchain Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo bring together industry leaders and take place in major tech hubs including Silicon Valley, London, and Amsterdam.