Benzinga | Jan 31, 2022 05:46AM EST

Vodafone Collaborates With Intel: All You Need To Know

Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ:VOD) collaborated with Intel Corp (NASDAQ: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 (NASDAQ:ERIC), Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, and Nokia Oyj (NYSE: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 (NASDAQ:QCOM), Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: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.