Vodafone Press Release
- Latest in a series of joint research projects with academia and research institutions at Vodafone’s expanding Innovation Centre in Málaga, Spain.
Vodafone and the i2CAT Foundation – a leading technological research centre – announced that they will use the improved automation offered by Open Radio Access Networks (RAN) to jointly build a highly responsive multi-vendor management system to fix faults and respond to cyber threats faster and more cheaply.
Unlike closed single-supplier networks, Open RAN promotes enhanced innovation through the introduction of new features and services by enabling the use of software and hardware from multiple vendors. This approach also paves the way for greater use of automated and virtualisation techniques, replacing manual tasks associated with traditional networks.
Combining the collective strengths of i2CAT’s pioneering research and development in new digital technologies with Vodafone’s advanced engineering expertise at its Innovation Centre in Málaga, the two organisations will use machine learning techniques to effectively manage and analyse multi-vendor Open RAN network logs. These logs provide vital information, such as successful login or failed access attempts, that can be used to enhance security and detect threats.
Ultimately, the system will provide Vodafone with a unified multi-vendor dashboard to respond to and control Open RAN events over a wide geographical area. This will support the company’s aim of having 30% of its masts across Europe using Open RAN technology by 2030. The management system’s benefits include reducing operational costs by automating the processing and analysis of multi-vendor logs; strengthening security by being able to quickly detect and mitigate threats across different suppliers; and simplifying compliance with appropriate regulations and industry standards.
Francisco Martin, Head of Open RAN at Vodafone, said: “Vodafone’s partnership with i2CAT supports our aim to provide ultra-secure and reliable software-driven networks that can be upgraded or patched in an instant. It will enable us to automate more manual tasks associated with traditional networks to respond even faster to fluctuations in demand, manage energy consumption more effectively, launch new features quicker and keep ahead of the ever-changing threat landscape.”
Ana Moliner, i2CAT’s Director of Innovation Business Development for the Private Sector, added: “This partnership combines i2CAT's R&D expertise with Vodafone’s knowledge of new infrastructure deployment and its global reach, accelerating the creation and adoption of new solutions and products. Together, we can explore new frontiers in digital connectivity, create new use cases in emerging sectors and contribute to society's advancement towards a more connected and innovative future.”
