Vodafone will unveil its next-generation 5G Network in a Box at Mobile World Congress (MWC) from 26 to 29 February 2024 (Hall 3, Stand 3E11).
Built on the credit card-sized Raspberry Pi personal computer and developed in collaboration with Lime Microsystems, the portable 5G network has more features than its predecessor, which was released this time last year. Lime Microsystems aims to start selling this upgraded version in the first half of this year.
Designed with small businesses, schools, and universities in mind. Anyone who urgently needs his own 5G network that is affordable, fast and secure.
Zero touch operation
A key feature of this new version is that it can be configured and managed completely remotely. Vodafone engineers can provide complete radio management, maintenance, configuration and software updates via the cloud. This makes 5G Network in a Box ideal for customers who want all the benefits of a Mobile Private Network (MPN) without the need for in-house IT or telecommunications skills.
The system has a more modular and lightweight design and also offers an optional battery pack that can operate autonomously for up to 10 hours. For example, it can easily and safely connect and “fly” with small industrial drones to provide reliable cover off-site in emergencies, whether over the mountains or at sea.
The 5G Network in a Box is one of the many ways Vodafone is helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and public sector organizations across Europe take advantage of new cloud-based connectivity and edge computing services. Hoteliers, farms, or campuses can quickly establish their own private, fast, reliable, and ultra-secure coverage slice. Consumers can also install boxes in locations where public Wi-Fi is slow or unsecured, or extend public network coverage to hard-to-reach locations such as basements.
Entire network on Raspberry Pi
The main advantage of this platform compared to established femtocell-like solutions (used to extend indoor coverage) is the simplicity and flexibility of low-cost software defined radio (SDR) silicon manufactured by Lime Microsystems. It’s about taking advantage of your sexuality. This innovative approach allows the use of his SDR technology in any frequency band while reducing computing requirements, allowing the entire 5G network to fit on the Raspberry Pi. The entire system can be easily configured over the air (to target technology and frequency band) without replacing hardware.
The 5G Network in a Box will be upgraded to work with the latest Raspberry Pi5 later this year. This increases overall system capacity by at least 2x, including supported bandwidth, number of concurrent users, and overall speed. .
open architecture
The concept was co-developed at Vodafone’s R&D center in Malaga. The center has a team of engineers dedicated to advancing silicon chips that drive new open RAN innovations. These new networks are built on open architectures that combine hardware and software from multiple vendors, rather than most of today’s single-supplier networks. This will lead to further innovation and strengthening of the vendor supply chain.
Vodafone’s 5G Network in a Box prototype offers many benefits to small and medium-sized businesses that can be realized through co-development with partners and vendors. Interested partners can experience first-hand the potential of this innovative technology at Vodafone’s MWC stand.
