Ericsson and VodafoneThree have put an upgraded 5G Core network into service in the United Kingdom, marking the next step in their SEK 12.5 billion network partnership. The companies said the cloud-native core is intended to provide a more simplified, resilient and automated network environment as VodafoneThree expands its mobile operations.
The new core uses Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core, which brings 4G and 5G core functions onto one platform. Ericsson said the architecture runs on its Cloud Native Infrastructure Solution, giving the operator a common cloud-native foundation for the two generations of mobile service rather than separate core environments.
The companies described the go-live as a significant partnership milestone. The upgraded core is designed to become one of Europe’s largest mobile packet cores, with capacity of 9 terabits per second to address future data demand. That capacity is a design target, not a reported measure of current network performance or customer experience.
For network-operations teams, the important change is the move to a common core environment that can support both existing 4G services and 5G functions. A dual-mode design can reduce the operational fragmentation that comes from running distinct core stacks, although the companies did not disclose the management tools, migration sequence or operational procedures used for the rollout.
Ericsson said its cloud-native infrastructure is part of the deployment. The company described the resulting environment as more automated, but did not specify which operational tasks will run without human intervention, what approval controls will apply, or whether automated actions are available across every network domain. Those details will determine how much day-to-day work the new architecture changes for operators.
The go-live follows the companies’ 2025 agreement for Ericsson to provide core, infrastructure and voice capabilities for VodafoneThree’s next-generation UK network. The current milestone puts the upgraded core into service as the operator continues to build out that wider program. Neither company disclosed a detailed rollout timetable, the number of subscribers on the new core or a target date for completing the broader network work.
Combining 4G and 5G core functions is especially relevant for operators that must evolve networks without abandoning existing services. VodafoneThree still needs to support a large base of current users while adding capacity and newer 5G capabilities. The companies are positioning the shared core as the control point for doing both on a single cloud-native platform.
That distinction matters when evaluating the capacity claim. The 9 Tbps figure identifies the scale that the companies say the core is designed to reach, but it does not describe traffic patterns, peak utilization, redundancy arrangements or fault-handling performance. Those measures would be needed to establish whether the common core has delivered its intended operational benefit rather than simply providing a foundation for it.
The companies’ claimed operational benefit is a simpler network foundation that can be scaled as demand grows. For IT and telecom infrastructure teams, that could mean fewer separate core environments to maintain and a clearer route for introducing new 5G services. The companies do not provide before-and-after operating costs, automation rates or reliability data, so the practical effect will need to be judged as the deployment expands.