Vodafone Idea conducts commercial pilot of Mavenir and Open RAN 5G ahead of planned rollout

Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) said its open RAN network is currently carrying live commercial data traffic ahead of the planned large-scale rollout of its 5G network.

The cash-strapped telecom company is collaborating with US-based telecom equipment manufacturer Mavenir for this commercial phase of its open RAN network pilot deployment, which began in September 2023.

This pilot deployment, covering major launch sites, marks the first O-RAN compliant deployment on Vodafone Idea’s network utilizing B1 supporting N78 and N258 millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum bands and NSA architecture .

Jagbir Singh, Chief Technology Officer, Vodafone Idea, said the Open RAN rollout, enabled through Mavenir’s innovation and joint technology strategic initiatives, is in sync with the telco’s technology transformation roadmap and vendor ecosystem. said.

“In conjunction with Mavenir’s solutions, we believe open RAN technology will play a key role in the future, providing network enhancements, improved TCO, and open interfaces that move the industry forward in new ways,” he said. Ta.

Mavenir is a complete end-to-end cloud-native open RAN system that incorporates commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and scalable, modular OpenBeam radios, as well as a distributed unit (DU) solution based on centralized OpenBeam radios. He said that he is providing Vodafone Idea with the following information: All Mavenir remote radio units (RRUs) and RAN software functions run on Red Hat OpenShift, a hybrid cloud application platform powered by Kubernetes.

BG Kumar, President, Access Networks, Platforms and Digital Enablement, Mavenir He stated that he is actively working to build an ecosystem that will operator. ”

Jagbir Singh, Chief Technology Officer, Vodafone Idea, said the Open RAN rollout, enabled through Mavenir’s innovation and joint technology strategic initiatives, is in sync with the telco’s technology transformation roadmap and vendor ecosystem. said.

Vodafone Idea Limited CEO Akshaya Moondra said on January 29 that the company is working with various parties to raise funds to make the necessary investments for network expansion, including 5G deployment. He said that

In particular, the cash-strapped company recently failed to secure funding from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to deploy OpenRAN and related technologies for its 5G network, the communications department said. This was revealed in an internal report.

Analysts say telcos need a capital injection to build cost-effective open RAN-based 5G networks, which could theoretically save several percentage points on CAPEX and OPEX. , which can act as leverage to increase bargaining power against traditional, more expensive equipment vendors.

Telecom company Aditya Birla Group said in an exchange note that Vodafone Idea will consider raising funds at its board meeting on February 27.

The company said its board of directors “will consider and consider any proposal for raising capital in one or more tranches by rights issue, further public offering, private placement including priority allocation, placement in a qualified institution, or any other permissible method.” I will evaluate it.” through the issuance of shares or securities or securities, including securities convertible into shares, Global Depositary Receipts, American Depositary Receipts, or debt securities, including foreign currency convertible bonds, and/or any combination thereof as may be deemed appropriate; Non-convertible bonds, including convertible bonds, stock acquisition rights and/or stock acquisition rights bonds (which may or may not be listed). ”