Ericsson and Vodafone announce major five-year programmable networks partnership

Rhea-AI Summary

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and Vodafone announced a five-year programmable networks partnership on Oct 14, 2025 to modernize Vodafone's RAN across multiple markets. Ericsson will be Vodafone's sole RAN vendor nationwide in Ireland, Netherlands, and Portugal, and a major vendor in Germany, Romania, and Egypt. The deal covers deployment of Ericsson's 5G Advanced RAN software, Open RAN-compatible Massive MIMO radios, RAN Compute, and the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform with AI-powered rApps. Germany is set to begin platform and rApp deployment in Q4 2025. The partnership aims to enable widespread 5G Standalone, automated RAN optimization, improved energy efficiency, and new differentiated connectivity services.

Positive

• 5-year strategic partnership announced on Oct 14, 2025
• Sole RAN vendor in Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal
• Major vendor status in Germany, Romania, Egypt
• Deployment of Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform and AI rApps
• Germany to begin platform and rApp deployment in Q4 2025

Negative

• None.

Insights

Telecom networks strategist

Five-year Ericsson–Vodafone deal secures nationwide Ericsson RAN in three markets and broad multi‑market modernization.

Ericsson will act as Vodafone's sole RAN vendor in Ireland, Netherlands, and Portugal and a major vendor in Germany, Romania, and Egypt, delivering Massive MIMO radios, RAN Compute, and 5G Advanced RAN software across those markets. The agreement covers a five‑year span and embeds Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform and AI rApps to automate RAN optimization and energy management; Germany begins deployment in Q4 2025.

The business mechanism ties infrastructure supply to managed software and automation, creating recurring deployment and services opportunities while enabling Vodafone to pursue 5G Standalone use cases and expose network APIs via the Aduna joint venture. Key dependencies include timely rollouts market‑by‑market, multi‑vendor interoperability where Ericsson is not sole vendor, and adoption of the announced rApps; operational benefits and monetization hinge on those deliverables.

Watch for concrete rollout milestones and commercial terms in each market, the start of Germany rollouts in Q4 2025, and progress on the related UK deal cited for context including the SEK 12.5 billion eight‑year agreement and the stated goal of 99.95% 5G SA population coverage by 2034. Near‑term signals (next 6–18 months) will include deployment schedules, trial results of AI rApps, and any published scope changes across the listed countries.

• Ericsson will be Vodafone's sole radio access network (RAN) vendor nationwide across Ireland, Netherlands, and Portugal, while maintaining major vendor status in Germany, Romania, and Egypt
• Five-year strategic partnership to position Vodafone as a global leader in performance and user experience by deploying Ericsson's advanced 5G hardware and software to modernize networks and enable 5G Standalone for differentiated connectivity needs
• Intelligent and open network management and automation (SMO and rApps) will be implemented to improve overall performance, energy efficiency, and sustainability

STOCKHOLM, Oct. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and Vodafone, one of the world's leading telecommunications companies, have announced a five-year strategic partnership to modernize Vodafone's network footprint using Ericsson's high-performing programmable network solutions across several key markets.

Ericsson will be Vodafone's sole RAN vendor in Ireland, Netherlands, and Portugal, as well as a major vendor in Germany, Romania, and Egypt. This move further deepens the long-standing, strategic relationship between the two companies.

The modernization of Vodafone's RAN infrastructure and management will lay the foundation for widespread deployment of 5G Standalone, enabling Vodafone to offer differentiated connectivity solutions with guaranteed, performance-based characteristics for their consumer and enterprise customers. 

Under the partnership, Vodafone will deploy Ericsson's state-of-the-art and Open RAN-compatible Massive MIMO radios and RAN Compute solutions, as well as 5G Advanced RAN software capabilities extensively across their networks in these markets.

The pan-European deal introduces Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform and a number of AI-powered rApps which will be deployed market-by-market to deliver automated RAN optimization, energy efficiency, and management of the multi-vendor network.

Germany will be the first market to deploy the platform and rApps for Ericsson and multi-vendor RAN management, with work beginning in Q4 2025. The comprehensive AI and network evolution partnership will elevate Vodafone's infrastructure to world-class standards, taking the first steps towards autonomous networks and ensuring their networks are at the forefront of technological advancement and capable of meeting future demands.

Alberto Ripepi, Chief Network Officer at Vodafone Group, says: "This strategic partnership with Ericsson marks a significant step in our network evolution journey. By modernizing our network with latest generation equipment and embracing high-performing new 5G Advanced capabilities, we're transforming our infrastructure for best customer experience and high network efficiency, utilizing automation and AI agents to seamlessly meet network demands in real time. We're also laying the groundwork to capitalize on the emerging market for network APIs through our joint venture, Aduna. This powerful combination will allow us to expose our network capabilities to developers, spurring a wave of innovation in applications and services, and positioning Vodafone at the forefront of network technology and innovation."

Patrick Johansson, Ericsson Senior Vice President and Head of Market Area Europe, Middle East and Africa, says: "We are proud to expand our long-standing relationship with Vodafone through this transformative agreement. This partnership aligns with our vision for high-performing programmable networks, laying a robust foundation for Vodafone to deliver differentiated connectivity experiences. By enabling innovative, performance-based solutions across consumer and enterprise segments, we're opening new opportunities for service monetization and driving the next wave of telecommunications innovation."

Vodafone will further enhance its network infrastructure by using Ericsson 5G Advanced RAN software solutions that employ AI and automation to enable intelligent, real-time network management, improve operational and energy efficiency, deliver superior device and network performance, and create opportunities for new revenue streams through differentiated connectivity services.

By embracing high-performing programmable network architectures, this partnership sets the stage for accelerated innovation and the development of new use cases across Vodafone's markets. This forward-looking approach will ensure Vodafone's network infrastructure is fit for the future and adaptable to emerging technologies, solidifying the company's position as a leader in the global telecommunications landscape.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

This announcement comes after VodafoneThree signed a SEK 12.5 billion eight-year partnership with Ericsson in September to power the majority of its next-generation mobile network. In addition to securing sole UK nationwide core network vendor status, Ericsson Radio System products and software solutions will also power a significant majority of the enhanced VodafoneThree radio network, supporting the communication service provider's ambition to provide 99.95 percent 5G SA population coverage across the UK by 2034.

RELATED LINKS:
Ericsson to power majority of VodafoneThree next-gen network

Ericsson 5G Advanced

Ericsson Intelligent RAN Automation

Aduna

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https://news.cision.com/ericsson/r/ericsson-and-vodafone-announce-major-five-year-programmable-networks-partnership,c4249185

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https://mb.cision.com/Main/15448/4249185/3720259.pdf	Ericsson Press Release_Vodafone Group Spring 6_GFMC_MMEA_14 October 2025
https://news.cision.com/ericsson/i/ericsson-engineer-working-on-a-rooftop-ran-antenna-site,c3477060	Ericsson engineer working on a rooftop RAN antenna site

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SOURCE Ericsson

FAQ

What did Ericsson and Vodafone announce on Oct 14, 2025 (ERIC)?

They announced a five-year strategic partnership to modernize Vodafone RAN using Ericsson 5G Advanced hardware, software, and automation.

Which countries will Ericsson be Vodafone's sole RAN vendor for under the ERIC deal?

Ericsson will be sole RAN vendor nationwide in Ireland, Netherlands, and Portugal.

When will deployment of Ericsson's automation platform start in Vodafone's networks?

Germany is scheduled to begin deployment of the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform and rApps in Q4 2025.

How does the Ericsson partnership affect Vodafone's 5G capabilities (ERIC)?

The deal enables broad rollout of 5G Standalone, Open RAN-compatible Massive MIMO, and AI-driven real-time network management.

Which Ericsson technologies will Vodafone deploy under the five-year agreement?

Vodafone will deploy Ericsson's Massive MIMO radios, RAN Compute, 5G Advanced RAN software, and the Intelligent Automation Platform with rApps.

Does the partnership include multi-market vendor arrangements for Vodafone (ERIC)?

Yes; Ericsson is sole vendor in three markets and a major vendor in Germany, Romania, and Egypt, supporting multi-vendor management.