Vodafone Collaborates With Intel: All You Need To Know

Vodafone Group PLC VOD collaborated with Intel Corp INTC and other silicon vendors to design its chip architecture for nascent OpenRAN network technology, Reuters reports.

• OpenRAN allows operators to mix and match suppliers in their radio networks, posing a challenge to Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson ERIC, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, and Nokia Oyj NOK.
• Vodafone's initiative will also contribute to the European Union's efforts to bolster its chip industry. 
• The OpenRAN would enable Vodafone to quickly add new digital services and optimize networks using artificial intelligence (AI).
• Earlier this month, Vodafone switched on Britain's first 5G OpenRAN site carrying live customer traffic in Bath, western England, kicking off a deployment that will number 2,500 sites by 2027.
• Vodafone invested 225 million euros ($251 million) over five years on the R&D center involving the OpenRAN chip architecture.
• Vodafone would design silicon for ARM and RISC-V instruction sets and Intel x86.
• About 20 other vendors have joined the project, including Qualcomm Inc QCOM, Broadcom Inc AVGO, ARM, and Lime Microsystems, with half of the total coming from Europe.
• Price Action: VOD shares traded lower by 0.56% at $17.67 in the premarket session on the last check Monday.