Vodafone has opened a new state-of-the-art Test and Integration Lab focused on Open Radio Access Network (OpenRAN) in Newbury, Berkshire, England. ISPreview reported that the lab, which employs 30 engineers, will support the company’s plans for a commercial rollout of 4G and 5G technology in rural parts of England and Wales. The R&D facility will “test, validate and prove platforms prior to commercial deployment as well as provide an environment to nurture the advancement of a still-developing ecosystem.”
Matt Warman, U.K. Minister for Digital Infrastructure, said of the company’s help in diversifying the 5G market, “Vodafone is paving the way in building mobile networks with a variety of different equipment suppliers, and its Newbury facility will put the UK at the forefront of the telecoms revolution – creating new jobs and opportunities for other firms.”
Last year Vodafone became the first operator to announce plans for a major U.K. rollout of OpenRAN to upgrade 2,600 sites, geographically focused in rural Wales and South West England. The company is still amassing a supplier network, so deployment is slated to begin in 2022, continuing through 2027, according to ISPreview.
Andrea Dona, Chief Network Officer of Vodafone U.K., commented that “OpenRAN promises meaningful benefits, including innovation, competition, and carbon savings. But, we’ll only deliver these benefits if we support the ecosystem.”
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