Network vendor Nokia and VodafoneThree have paired to activate the first 100 advanced 5G radio sites on Vodafone’s UK network.. The milestone builds on the strategic partnership forged between the two companies last year, as part of VodafoneThree’s plans to ramp up its 5G Standalone network rollout.. – Paul Lipscombe.
The eight-year agreement was signed in September of last year, just months after Vodafone and Three completed its merger to become VodafoneThree.. As part of that merger, Vodafone is investing £11 billion ($14.89bn) into its network, which includes the carrier’s ambitions to ramp up its 5G Standalone coverage across the UK..
For now, penetration sits at around 60 percent of the UK’s population. By 2034, the carrier wants to reach 99.96 percent of the UK’s population with this service.. The company’s partnership with Nokia aims to bridge that gap, with the vendor providing its AirScale RAN technology for VodafoneThree’s network..
This AirScale RAN technology has been deployed for VodafoneThree’s 5G network within the past year, notes Nokia, which said the first advanced 5G radio sites went live in 2026, just months after the agreement was signed.. That figure has since extended to 100 advanced 5G sites across the country..
“Reaching this milestone so quickly is a testament to the expertise and commitment of the teams at VodafoneThree and Nokia. Bringing our first advanced 5G radio sites live is an important step in building the UK’s best network, helping us deliver faster speeds, greater reliability and a better experience for millions of customers,” said Iain Milligan, network development and infrastructure director, VodafoneThree..
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