Vodafone UK Unify Core and Radio Network Sharing Over Multi-Vendor 5G Network

Mobile operator Vodafone UK (VodafoneThree) and network supplier Ericsson today claim to have completed a “world-first network upgrade” by becoming the first mobile operator to successfully unify core and radio network sharing over a multi-vendor 4G and 5G network – helping to unlock faster mobile broadband speeds for around 71% of UK people.

The work forms part of VodafoneThree’s post-merger plan to invest £11bn into upgrading the UK’s 5G mobile infrastructure and coverage over the next decade (here, here and here). The combined business has also previously stated that it aspires to reach more than 99.95% of the UK population with their 5G Standalone (5GSA / 5G+) network by 2034 and push fixed wireless access (mobile home broadband) to 82% of households by 2030.

The latest development in this effort essentially completes VodafoneThree’s work to unify core-level sharing through their Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) technology with its existing Multi-Operator Radio Access Network (MORAN) infrastructure.

As it stands today, up to 28.6 million Vodafone and Three UK customers are now automatically connecting to the best available coverage, at no extra cost – “eliminating 16,500km² of mobile not spots, improving speeds when using 4G and 5G, and boosting network capacity and resilience to provide a better experience for all customers“.

The latest development is covered in a new white paper from Ericsson, which shows how the new network works and its benefits. The result is said to be a “single, intelligently orchestrated platform that delivers measurable improvements in performance, reliability and efficiency“. As part of this, they’ve also unlocked the benefits of shared C-band spectrum (3.4GHz to 3.8GHz) across sites nationwide with up to 50 million people (71% of the UK population) claimed to be seeing faster 5G speeds.

Stated Benefits of the Latest Upgrade

➤ Dynamic access to the best coverage – Vodafone and Three customers are automatically using each other’s network, getting the best available coverage, at no extra cost. This seamless transition improves speeds, enhances reliability and crucially, requires no action from the user.

➤ Eliminating 4G not spots – By providing 4G coverage to areas of the UK where it wasn’t previously available to either brand’s customers, VodafoneThree has removed 16,500km² of not spots, an area ten times the size of London.

➤ Enhanced 5G coverage – Up to 50 million people, around 71% of the UK population, now have access to VodafoneThree’s fastest 5G speeds, thanks to bringing the networks together and an accelerated 5G roll out plan.

➤ Reliability and resilience – Busy times, such as rush hour, put a strain on the network, as sites can be flooded with more customers than they can provide a good quality service to. Thanks to this technology, customers will be moved from a busy site to one that is able to provide the required level of performance. This reduces congestion, improving performance for affected users and providing a better experience for all customers.

➤ Improved coverage for high-footfall venues – Strategic coverage, including tactical deployment on temporary sites, indoor solutions and upgrades at high-footfall venues such as stadiums, airports and event spaces, ensure service levels remain strong during spikes in demand.

The improvements mentioned above form part of VodafoneThree’s “first phase of network integration“, with more to come.

Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer at VodafoneThree, said:

“This world-first network upgrade shows how VodafoneThree is using cutting-edge technology to transform the UK’s digital infrastructure. By unifying core and radio sharing at a national level, while also introducing intelligent orchestration and dynamic capacity management, we’re setting a new benchmark for network performance.

This upgrade means customers are already experiencing improved reliability and coverage and as well as access to our fastest 5G speeds today, but this is just the beginning. As we continue rolling out upgrades through our £11 billion investment, customers can expect even better performance, with even faster speeds.”

Take note that Vodafone and Three UK eventually aim to have a single core network that will do away with the need for the MOCN side of things, but that’s still “many years away” and MOCN itself is currently still being deployed (i.e. the roll-out of MOCN is expected to complete by 2033). The reason why some masts take longer is because many of the initial batches were merely software upgrades, while others will need new hardware, especially in remote rural areas (that takes time).