Vodafone and Dell partner to scale Open RAN and 5G in Europe

Vodafone named Dell Technologies a strategic infrastructure provider for a five-year Open RAN buildout across Europe, signaling a move from trials to scaled, automated 5G networks.

Partnership scope and rollout plan

Vodafone will expand one of Europe’s largest Open RAN footprints using Dell infrastructure as part of a multi-year radio access modernization program. The partnership focuses on standard, cloud-native RAN platforms that enable multi-vendor radio sites and faster feature delivery across the operator’s European markets.

PowerEdge XR8000 edge hardware and silicon roadmap

Dell will supply its PowerEdge XR8000 series servers, including the XR8620t and the latest XR8720t with Intel Xeon 6 SoC. These edge-optimized systems target dense fronthaul connectivity and workload consolidation to lower total cost of ownership. The objective is to collapse functions onto fewer boxes—ultimately pushing toward a “single server per site” design where feasible.

DTIAS O-Cloud lifecycle automation

Vodafone also plans to adopt the Dell Telecom Infrastructure Automation Suite (DTIAS) to provide the Infrastructure Management Service within its Open RAN architecture. In this context, “IMS” refers to infrastructure management, not the IP Multimedia Subsystem. DTIAS is designed to automate Day 0/1/2 lifecycle operations for O-Cloud infrastructure, enabling zero-touch provisioning, performance optimization, and faster rollout of cloud-native RAN functions.

Why Vodafone’s Open RAN scale-up matters now

The deal underscores a shift in Europe from Open RAN pilots to production-scale deployments aligned to 5G Advanced roadmaps and tighter cost and energy targets.

From pilots to production at European scale

European operators face capex pressure, high energy costs, and the need for vendor diversification. Open RAN has matured with clearer reference designs and better silicon performance, making scale deployments more viable. Vodafone’s move with Dell adds depth to a multi-supplier strategy and pushes Open RAN from select clusters toward broader coverage.

Aligned with 3GPP Release 18/19 and 5G Advanced

As 3GPP Release 18/19 features arrive, RAN automation, uplink improvements, and network slicing require cloud-native execution. A standardized server base with automated lifecycle management accelerates feature uptake, shortens testing cycles, and supports AI-driven operations. Vodafone also cites direct-to-device satellite and RAN automation, pointing to a broader shift to programmable, heterogeneous access.

Strategic implications for operators and vendors

This partnership elevates server and automation platforms to first-class roles in RAN strategy and vendor selection.

Operator benefits and deployment priorities

General-purpose, telco-grade servers at the edge can consolidate DU/CU workloads and simplify sparing and upgrades. With automation, operators can reduce site visits, speed software rollouts, and tighten performance control. Expect rural and suburban clusters to adopt consolidated designs first, with high-capacity urban sites following as silicon and accelerators advance.

Vendor differentiation and telco-grade KPIs

Server providers and automation stacks now compete on telco KPIs: deterministic performance, fronthaul density, timing, energy per bit, and open interfaces. The winning ecosystem will prove smooth integration with radios, RIC/SMO layers, and CI/CD toolchains while meeting stringent SLAs at scale.

Key Open RAN technical considerations

Execution hinges on real-time performance, open interfaces, automation depth, and site-by-site design choices.

DU CU placement, latency, and fronthaul design

Open RAN DU/CU placement must balance transport latency, spectrum efficiency, and TCO. Targets like “one server per site” will fit certain site archetypes; massive MIMO urban sites may still need additional compute or accelerators. Fronthaul (eCPRI) port density, sync accuracy, and 7.2x split compliance remain critical for multi-vendor interoperability.

SMO integration and end-to-end lifecycle automation

DTIAS should align with O-RAN O2/O-Cloud concepts and integrate with the operator’s Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) stack. Closed-loop telemetry, GitOps pipelines, golden images, and standardized APIs are essential to keep thousands of sites current and secure without manual intervention.

Security hardening and edge resilience

Open RAN broadens the attack surface as it adds suppliers and interfaces. Robust SBOM management, frequent patching, secure boot, and role-based access control are table stakes. Edge servers must handle harsh environments while sustaining real-time workloads and ensuring high availability.

What to watch in Vodafone’s rollout

Progress will be measured by deployment cadence, vendor ecosystem depth, and operational metrics.

Markets, cadence, and site archetypes

Track which Vodafone European markets move first, the pace of site conversions, and the mix of rural versus urban deployments. Look for evidence of repeatable blueprints that shorten site turn-up time.

Radios, RIC, transport, and observability ecosystem

Expect announcements on complementary elements such as radios, RIC/xApps/rApps, transport timing, and observability. Watch silicon roadmaps and accelerator options as operators push for higher capacity per watt.

Energy efficiency, opex, and TCO proof points

Key proof points include energy per cell, spectral efficiency, and automation-driven opex savings. Transparent KPIs will determine whether the TCO thesis for Open RAN holds at European scale.

Recommendations for telecom and network teams

Use this inflection to harden Open RAN designs, automation, and supply chains ahead of 5G Advanced upgrades.

Actions for CTOs and network planners

Standardize site archetypes with clear compute, fronthaul, and timing profiles. Validate “single server per site” scenarios by band and load profile. Build CI/CD and GitOps pipelines that span lab-to-field, including canary and rollback. Stress-test DTIAS/SMO integration and observability before mass rollout. Secure multi-sourcing for servers, NICs, timing, and optics to mitigate lead-time risk.

Guidance for enterprises and ecosystem partners

Plan for faster feature availability from cloud-native RAN, including network slicing and exposure via standardized APIs. Private 5G and edge workloads can benefit from the same server and automation patterns, improving portability and lifecycle management across public and private domains.

Bottom line and success criteria

Vodafone’s selection of Dell’s PowerEdge XR8000 servers and DTIAS automation is a pragmatic step toward high-scale, automated Open RAN in Europe. The approach aligns compute, operations, and openness to meet 5G Advanced demands—provided performance, energy, and integration targets are met in the field.