Vodafone Idea shuns traditional tech to cut cost of 5G rollout

Vodafone Idea is exploring both OpenRAN (ORAN) and virtualised RAN (vRAN) technologies to reduce the cost of deployment for its upcoming 5G network. The cash-strapped telco has already begun proof-of-concept (PoC) projects with Korea’s Samsung for vRAN and US-based Mavenir Systems for OpenRAN-based 5G network.

People familiar with the matter said Samsung is doing PoCs in 20 sites with Vodafone Idea in Tamil Nadu, while Mavenir is doing a similar project in the Punjab circle.