Vodafone, A1 Group and Ericsson have completed the first successful 5G Standalone (5G SA) international roaming connection between two separate operator groups, marking a major step forward for high-performance roaming services.
The trial connected Vodafone Germany and A1 Bulgaria, demonstrating a practical path to seamless, high-speed roaming for both consumers and businesses operating across borders. Unlike earlier 5G deployments that relied on 4G infrastructure (Non-Standalone, NSA), 5G SA uses fourth- and fifth-generation technology end-to-end — from the radio access network to the core — unlocking the network’s full potential for ultra-low latency, higher reliability and advanced capabilities.
This successful demonstration paves the way for future commercial 5G SA roaming services, allowing travellers to enjoy the same fast, responsive connectivity abroad that they have on their home network, even in busy city centres and major transport hubs. For enterprise customers, the implications are especially significant: consistent low-latency performance across countries enables sophisticated global applications.
Potential enterprise use cases include dedicated network slices — private virtual networks tailored to specific business needs — that could enable remote control of industrial robots, support autonomous logistics vehicles operating across borders, or allow large-scale augmented and virtual reality deployments at international events.
The trial was a joint engineering effort from Vodafone, A1 Group and Ericsson. Teams enabled data connectivity for an A1 Bulgaria subscriber’s standard mobile device while roaming on Vodafone Germany’s live 5G SA network, using commercially available core network software that follows current 3GPP industry standards.
In addition to data services, the partners validated enhanced voice roaming quality, demonstrating potential support for advanced audio features expected in future smartphones, including immersive surround sound capabilities.
Alberto Ripepi, Chief Network Officer at Vodafone Group, said that Vodafone Germany was the first operator in Europe to launch a commercial 5G SA network and that this demonstration brings that expertise into international roaming. He highlighted that 5G SA roaming will improve customer experience at large international events and deliver consistent, high-speed connectivity for businesses across multiple markets.
Todor Tashev, Senior Director Competence Delivery Center for A1 Group at A1 Bulgaria, described the world-first 5G SA roaming connection between operator groups as an important technological milestone. He noted A1’s investment in resources and expertise to give customers a high-quality on-the-go experience across A1 Group countries and said this initial connection is a key step toward offering live network roaming to European citizens and visitors.
Ericsson’s technology formed the backbone of the demonstration. The connection used Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core platform, while security for cross-border communications was handled via multi-level, multi-vendor Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP) platforms managed by both Vodafone Group and A1 Group. Ericsson’s SEPP provided integrated security features that protect network infrastructure and subscriber data privacy during international roaming, aligned with GSMA security guidelines.
Monica Zethzon, Head of Solution Area Core Networks at Ericsson, noted that there are more than 60 live or deployed 5G standalone networks worldwide and that Ericsson’s core and radio solutions support more than 40 of them. As additional 5G SA networks go live, she said users will expect the same high service quality and robust security when they travel as they receive on their home networks.
The demonstration used the standard roaming architecture defined by 3GPP and the GSMA, which enables automatic setup and centralised management of interconnections between operators. Standardisation reduces complexity compared with managing many individual routes, simplifying roaming agreements and accelerating the commercial rollout of 5G SA roaming services.
Market outlooks reinforce the shift to 5G SA. Ericsson’s Mobility Report forecasts that by 2030 nearly 60% of global 5G subscriptions — roughly 3.6 billion connections — will use 5G SA capabilities. Consumer research from Ericsson also indicates that European customers are willing to pay a premium for improved mobile experiences at large events such as concerts and sports fixtures — environments where resilient 5G SA roaming will be critical.
“Roaming for 5G standalone is an essential part of the future of telecoms in a world where service quality expectations are high,” Zethzon added, highlighting Ericsson’s intent to work with partners like Vodafone and A1 Group to bring these capabilities to users worldwide.
(Image by Mohamed Hassan)
Looking to revamp your digital transformation strategy? Learn more about Digital Transformation Week, which takes place in Amsterdam, California and London. The event runs alongside industry gatherings including IoT Tech Expo, AI & Big Data Expo and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo, offering a broad programme for technology leaders.
Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge.