Vodafone to Develop New OpenRAN Mobile Chips with ARM

Mobile network operator Vodafone has announced a new collaboration with British semiconductor firm ARM, which is designed to help fast-track the development of new platforms (chipsets) for their future 4G and 5G based Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN).

At present Vodafone is already investing a lot of money into rolling out O-RAN technologies, which standardises the design and functionality of radio access kit and software, thus increasing the number of companies able to supply operators via vendor-neutral hardware and software-defined technology, while also boosting interoperability.

For example, the operator only recently began their “volume deployment“ of OpenRAN across the UK, which aims to reach 2,500 sites across mostly rural parts of Wales and the South-West of England by 2027 (here). As part of that they’ve already been working with a number of companies, such as Intel, Samsung, Dell and more.

The collaboration with Arm will expand upon that and provide smaller companies with the necessary testing and verification support to also become part of these future networks. Vodafone is currently working with specialist system and silicon firms SynaXG and Ampere Computing® to test and validate Arm-based Open RAN silicon, as well as Fujitsu which will provide the RAN software.

Testing is due to begin this year in vendor laboratories to prove the compute platform and silicon integration. It will be extended to include 5G commercial Open RAN software from Fujitsu before moving to Vodafone’s test facilities at its recently expanded R&D centre in Málaga, and Newbury, in the UK, in the first quarter of 2024, with additional vendors to follow.

Santiago Tenorio, Vodafone Director of Network Architecture, said:

“Vodafone’s Open RAN leadership coupled with the power efficiency of the Arm-based architecture, will widen the chip and software ecosystem. By expanding the number of competing best-in-class suppliers, we can drive greater innovation, energy efficiency and security for the benefit of our customers.”

In keeping with the philosophy behind Open RAN, Vodafone said the results of this collaborative partnership “will be made available to the entire industry“.