Mavenir, a prominent US-based cloud-native network infrastructure provider, has announced its progress in the advanced pilot commercial phase of deploying Open-RAN for Vodafone Idea (Vi), one of India’s leading telecom operators. The deployment, initiated in September 2023, is now covering key launch sites and actively handling live commercial traffic for Vi. Mavenir’s comprehensive Open-RAN system, deployed in this pilot, positions it as a potential partner for Vi’s future 5G rollout utilizing O-RAN architecture.
Advanced O-RAN Pilot Deployment
The Open-RAN pilot deployment by Mavenir into Vi’s network is O-RAN compliant, utilizing the N78 and N258 mmWave spectrum bands along with B1, supporting the NSA architecture. This milestone underscores Mavenir’s role as a strategic partner for Vi in the journey toward 5G deployment, showcasing its commitment to the evolution of telecommunications infrastructure.
End-to-End Cloud-Native Open-RAN System
Mavenir is delivering an end-to-end cloud-native Open-RAN system to Vodafone Idea (Vi), a testament to its technological innovation and commitment to advancing the telecom industry. Vi’s Chief Technology Officer, Jagbir Singh, expressed pride in exploring next-gen radio solutions that provide sustainable advantages to their business and customers. The partnership with Mavenir aligns with Vi’s technology transformation roadmap and vendor ecosystem enrichment.
Jagbir Singh stated, “This Open RAN deployment, delivered through Mavenir’s innovation and joint technological strategic initiatives, is in sync with our technology transformation roadmap and enriched vendor ecosystem. Working in partnership with Mavenir, we see a major role ahead for Open RAN technology in delivering the network enhanced capabilities, better TCO, and open interfaces that will push the industry forward in new ways.”
Building an Open RAN Ecosystem for India
BG Kumar, President Access Networks, Platforms, and Digital Enablement at Mavenir, highlighted Vodafone Idea’s leadership in bringing the benefits of Open RAN technology to the unique challenges and opportunities of the Indian market. Mavenir is actively engaged in building an ecosystem that delivers next-gen Open RAN technology platforms, aiming to enhance customer experience across India. Kumar emphasized the role of Open RAN in driving growth, flexibility, customization, and customer-focused innovation while simultaneously reducing capital and operational expenditures for operators.
