Samsung Electronics and Vodafone completed the first European call using Samsung’s virtualized RAN (vRAN) running on an Intel Xeon 6 SoC, marking a milestone in their Open RAN collaboration. The validation demonstrates vRAN performance across 2G, 4G and 5G on a single high-performance server platform optimized for AI workloads. The companies conducted the test in Spain and plan commercial deployment in 2026.
The trial used Dell Technologies servers and a Wind River cloud platform to host Samsung’s cloud-native RAN software. By consolidating multiple generations of mobile technology onto a single Intel Xeon 6-based system-on-chip, Vodafone can reduce hardware footprint and energy consumption while maintaining or exceeding the performance of traditional baseband systems. The architecture also allows operators to allocate unused compute capacity to AI and edge applications, extending automation from the cell site to the core network.
The validation builds on Vodafone’s Open RAN rollout in Germany, where Samsung serves as a key strategic supplier. Following initial test sites, Vodafone plans to fully equip the city of Wismar in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with Open RAN later this year. Samsung and Vodafone are also deploying Samsung’s CognitiV Network Operations Suite (NOS) to automate large-scale network operations with AI-driven provisioning and upgrades.
- First European call completed on Samsung vRAN powered by Intel Xeon 6 SoC
- Supports 2G, 4G and 5G on a single cloud-native server platform
- Ecosystem includes Dell Technologies (servers) and Wind River (cloud platform)
- Commercial deployment targeted for 2026
- Open RAN expansion underway in Germany, with Wismar set to become fully Open RAN-enabled
- AI-driven automation delivered via Samsung CognitiV NOS
“By advancing toward more flexible networks, we are not only facilitating immediate AI adoption but also laying the essential groundwork for an AI-native, 6G-ready infrastructure,” said Everth Flores, Vice President and Head of Samsung Networks Europe.
🌐 Analysis
This milestone aligns with Vodafone’s broader Open RAN strategy in Germany and reflects a growing shift toward software-defined, AI-optimized RAN platforms across Europe. The use of Intel’s latest Xeon 6 SoC positions general-purpose processors as viable engines for high-performance vRAN, as operators evaluate cost, energy efficiency and AI integration against traditional purpose-built silicon from established RAN vendors.
