Virgin Media O2 Selects Mavenir for Its Open RAN Deployment

Virgin Media O2, one of the leading telecommunication providers in the UK, has recently chosen Mavenir as its Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) vendor. Mavenir is a Network Software Provider that builds innovative cloud-native solutions designed to run on any cloud platform. The collaboration aims to implement a scalable Open vRAN solution that will be integrated into Virgin Media O2’s network evolution plans, enabling the company to adopt a more flexible and cloud-native architecture.

Mavenir’s Open vRAN solution is built from the ground up to be cloud-native, with fully containerised microservices. This allows the solution to be deployed easily on any cloud platform, making it a highly scalable and flexible option for telecommunication providers. Mavenir’s Open vRAN is also O-RAN compliant, meaning that it supports open interfaces that can work with O-RAN Split 7.2x and Split 2, ensuring seamless integration with existing networks.

Designed to support multiple Fronthaul splits simultaneously, the vRAN solution provides a vendor-agnostic and future-proof architecture, leveraging Virgin Media O2’s network infrastructure assets.

Mavenir’s Open RAN system will consist of fully virtualised L1, L2 vRAN SW and will operate on Intel Xeon Scalable Processors, along with Intel vRAN Accelerator ACC100 and Intel 800 series Ethernet adapters. The delivery will also feature Mavenir’s OpenBeam™ Radios including massive MIMO, 3rd party O-RAN based Radio Units (O-RU) for open Fronthaul, network monitoring and optimisation.

Last month, Virgin Media O2 and Ericsson announced they will boost 4G and 5G coverage and capacity to major cities and towns across the U.K. as part of a renewed network partnership agreement.

Virgin Media O2’s 5G network reached 1,600 towns and cities across the country as of the end of last year. In its latest earnings release, the telco said it was on track to deliver 5G services to 50% of the U.K. population during 2023.