VodafoneThree Selects Ericsson and Nokia for £2.7bn UK 5G Rollout
VodafoneThree has appointed Ericsson and Nokia as its primary technology partners to deliver a major expansion of 5G infrastructure across the UK, under a £2.7 billion agreement spanning the next decade.
The partnership forms part of VodafoneThree’s wider £11 billion network investment plan, aimed at building the UK’s most advanced standalone (SA) 5G network. The programme targets 99.95% population coverage by 2034 and will deliver near-nationwide access to high-performance mobile connectivity.
Under the agreement:
Ericsson will deploy next-generation radio access network (RAN) and core network solutions across more than 10,000 sites, including nationwide voice services using its cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core platform.
Nokia will supply high-performance RAN equipment to around 7,000 sites and modernise elements of the voice core network.
UK-based delivery partners including Beacon Communication Services, Circet Wireless, M Group and WHP Telecoms will support large-scale construction and deployment nationwide.
VodafoneThree expects nearly 75% of the population to access its fastest 5G speeds in the first year, rising to 90% standalone 5G coverage by year three. The investment is forecast to boost the UK economy by up to £102 billion between 2025 and 2035, while creating up to 13,000 jobs across engineering, construction and network maintenance.
The eight-year agreement will leverage the latest advances in telecoms technology and R&D to deliver a future-ready network supporting digital growth across sectors including energy, finance, manufacturing, security and technology.
