Samsung Electronics and Vodafone have completed Europe’s first call using Samsung’s virtualized RAN (vRAN) solution powered by the latest Intel Xeon 6 SoC, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of cloud-native, AI-ready mobile networks.
The achievement underscores both companies’ commitment to advancing next-generation autonomous networks built on software-driven, open architectures fully optimized for artificial intelligence across 2G, 4G and 5G environments, Samsung said at the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2026).
High-Performance vRAN on a Single Server Platform
The test call was conducted using Intel’s Xeon 6 SoC, specifically optimized for vRAN software capable of handling intensive workloads and AI-driven applications. The solution supports multi-generation networks on a single high-performance server, simplifying infrastructure while maintaining or exceeding the performance of traditional hardware-based RAN systems.
This streamlined configuration enables Vodafone to reduce the number of physical systems and hardware components in its network. The approach delivers lower operational costs, improved energy efficiency and a flexible foundation for embedding AI capabilities across the radio, edge and core network layers.
The milestone was achieved in collaboration with ecosystem partners including Dell Technologies, which provided the server infrastructure, and Wind River, which delivered the cloud platform. Commercial deployment of the solution is scheduled for 2026.
Expanding Open RAN Across Germany and Europe
The announcement builds on Vodafone’s selection of Samsung as a strategic partner for large-scale Open RAN deployment across Europe. Following the launch of their first Open RAN test site in Germany last year, the companies have expanded the technology into additional commercial locations.
Later this year, the city of Wismar is set to become the first fully Open RAN-enabled city within Vodafone’s German mobile network. The deployment in Germany is progressing in phases, with broader regional coverage planned as the integration of advanced processors accelerates.
Vodafone reports that network performance in its Open RAN rollout matches or surpasses traditional baseband solutions, reinforcing confidence in the scalability and reliability of open, virtualized architectures.
AI-Powered Automation and Network Intelligence
Central to Vodafone’s Open RAN and AI transformation strategy is Samsung’s CognitiV Network Operations Suite (NOS), an AI-powered automation platform designed to manage software-defined networks at scale. The solution enables one-click deployment and simplified upgrades, helping operators streamline operations and enhance efficiency.
By integrating advanced processors and AI-driven automation into commercial networks, Samsung and Vodafone aim to create a more intelligent and adaptable infrastructure. Open RAN fosters a multi-vendor ecosystem that accelerates innovation while delivering energy-efficient, high-performance connectivity.
Marco Zangani, Director of Network Strategy and Architecture at Vodafone, emphasized the company’s focus on building a future-ready network capable of supporting 5G-Advanced services, improved energy performance and automation from the cell site to the network core.
Everth Flores, Vice President and Head of Samsung Networks Europe, highlighted that the software-based, cloud-native approach enables immediate AI adoption while laying the foundation for AI-native, 6G-ready infrastructure.
Foundation for 6G and Edge Innovation
Samsung’s vRAN architecture supports the integration of next-generation processing technologies as they enter the market, ensuring operators can adapt quickly to rapid industry innovation. Operators can dynamically allocate unused computing capacity to run AI and edge applications directly on existing telco infrastructure, closer to where data is generated and consumed.
This flexibility enhances network responsiveness, supports latency-sensitive applications and prepares the ground for emerging devices and services that will define the 6G era.
Through continued research and development, Samsung Networks is delivering end-to-end 5G solutions spanning chipsets, radios and core networks, while advancing AI-RAN, Open RAN and private network technologies. The collaboration with Vodafone signals a broader industry shift toward intelligent, software-driven mobile networks capable of supporting Europe’s accelerating digital transformation.
SHAFANA FAZAL