Samsung Electronics has won a contract with Vodafone to become a primary partner to deploy Open RAN technology in Germany and other European countries.
This collaboration leverages Samsung’s virtualized RAN (vRAN) and Open RAN solutions, integrated with AI and automation capabilities, to deliver energy-efficient, and intelligent network operations. Financial details were not disclosed.
Germany becomes the first market to implement Samsung’s solutions, with thousands of Open RAN sites planned. The first site is live in Hannover, while Wismar is expected to be fully equipped with Open RAN by early 2026. Over the next five years, Samsung and Vodafone aim to expand this large-scale deployment across multiple European markets, strengthening the operator’s digital infrastructure and supporting AI-driven network automation.
Samsung will provide a versatile vRAN solution supporting 2G, 4G, and 5G, alongside O-RAN compliant radios, including Massive MIMO technology. Additionally, Samsung’s CognitiV Network Operations Suite (NOS) will enhance automation and energy efficiency, while system integration services ensure seamless deployment across multi-vendor environments.
Key partners such as Dell Technologies, Intel, and Wind River will contribute to servers, processors, and cloud platforms, enabling optimized network performance and reduced total cost of ownership (TCO).
Vodafone’s Chief Network Officer, Alberto Ripepi, said: “By bringing in enhanced capabilities powered by AI and automation, we look forward to fostering a more advanced digital society as well as providing greater connectivity to our customers.”
Samsung’s Woojune Kim said: “We are empowering customers to have a competitive edge in evolving their networks in the AI era, with a strong start in Germany.”
The partnership extends beyond deployment, focusing on AI-friendly and autonomous Open RAN networks. Samsung’s vRAN provides a foundation for AI applications like AI-powered Energy Saving Manager (AI-ESM), which dynamically optimizes cell site operations based on traffic patterns to increase energy efficiency without compromising network performance. Samsung’s radios also support RAN sharing, enabling operators to reduce hardware costs while delivering high-performance networks across Europe.
Global analyst firm Omdia noted that Samsung’s technological expertise and successful track record in Open RAN deployments reinforced Vodafone’s confidence in its market leadership. Samsung continues to advance 5G networks globally, providing end-to-end solutions including chipsets, radios, cores, private networks, and AI-powered automation tools to enhance connectivity for hundreds of millions of users worldwide.
Vodafone has made a series of strategic investments and deals to strengthen its operations and expand network capabilities.
Vodafone partnered with Accenture to commercialize its shared services operations unit, VOIS, with Accenture investing around €150 million for a minority stake, enhancing efficiency and customer experience.
In India, Vodafone Idea (VIL) launched a Follow-on Public Offer to raise ₹18,000 crore, securing about ₹5,400 crore from anchor investors to expand 4G infrastructure and roll out 5G in key markets.
VIL also finalized a $3.6 billion network investment deal with Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung as part of a broader three-year capex plan totaling approximately $6.6 billion to increase 4G coverage, launch 5G, and expand network capacity.
In Europe, Vodafone sold its Italian operations to Swisscom for around €8 billion and earlier divested its Spanish unit, focusing on simplifying operations and reducing debt.
Additionally, Vodafone entered a long-term deal with AST SpaceMobile through 2034 to offer space-based cellular broadband in Europe and Africa, complementing its terrestrial network coverage.
The technology collaboration between Vodafone and Samsung signals a major step toward Europe’s next-generation mobile networks, combining Open RAN innovation, AI automation, and sustainable energy solutions to transform the telecommunications landscape.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
