Key Takeaways:
- Ericsson has successfully automated the upgrade of Vodafone Oman’s core network applications and cloud infrastructure.
- The upgrade enables Vodafone Oman to deploy standalone (SA) 5G services, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Vodafone Oman aims to expand its 5G coverage from 70% to 90% of the population by year-end.
Ericsson announced that it has completed an automated upgrade of Vodafone Oman’s core network applications and cloud infrastructure, enabling the telco to deploy standalone (SA) 5G services.
The project scope included Vodafone Oman’s end-to-end core network and cloud infrastructure, network management, life cycle management, and business support systems (BSS), all operating on Ericsson gear.
Specifically, Ericsson upgraded virtual and containerized core network functions, including evolved packet core (EPC), home subscriber server (HSS), unified data management (UDM), IP multimedia subsystem (IMS), policy and charging rules functions (PCRF), and management and orchestration (MANO) applications.
Ericsson’s service delivery and managed network services teams conducted the upgrade in collaboration with Vodafone Oman. The upgrade was facilitated by Ericsson’s automation pipeline, ensuring minimal human intervention and no traffic disruptions during the process.
“Over 200 live node activities (LNA) were executed with a 100% first-time-right rate, zero incidents, and no escalations,” the company stated.
The automated upgrade process aids Vodafone Oman in achieving improved performance and faster time-to-value compared to manual processes, allowing the telco to implement the latest security patches and corrections swiftly to mitigate network-related risks.
Vodafone Oman CEO Bader Al Zidi noted that this upgrade paves the way for launching 5G SA. “This upgrade, alongside the introduction of the Ericsson automation framework for future upgrades, is a vital step for enabling new technology services and preparing Vodafone for a smooth introduction of 5G SA,” he stated. “The automation will enhance our daily operations and set the stage for future expansion.”
Vodafone Oman’s 5G SA network project with Ericsson has been in development for some time. In January 2023, both companies announced the successful completion of a voice over new radio (VoNR) proof of concept call over a standalone 5G network.
Vodafone Oman, which launched commercial services in 2022, signed a five-year deal with Ericsson in September 2021 to deploy, operate, and maintain its greenfield 4G and 5G network. As of March, Vodafone Oman reported its 5G network covers 70% of the population, with plans to increase that coverage to 90% by the end of this year.
