Vodafone Group: The journey to zero-touch RAN configuration

Transforming network operations with a multi-OpCo, multi-vendor open scripting tool that improves efficiency, reduces risk, and empowers Vodafone’s journey to automated RAN.

The growing complexity of modern telecommunications networks has made automating and simplifying Radio Access Network (RAN) configuration processes a key industry priority. Operators face increasing challenges in deploying and managing advanced technologies, driving demand for solutions that streamline tasks such as site commissioning, RAN sharing, vendor and platform transitions, and large-scale network upgrades.

However, achieving effective automation also presents significant challenges, particularly in balancing process standardisation with the need for adaptability across diverse OSS and vendor environments. Solutions must integrate smoothly with existing infrastructure, maintaining consistency while supporting local customisation to address specific market and technology requirements.

The Challenge

Vodafone is committed to further simplifying and automating RAN configuration processes, especially in complex scenarios such as site commissioning, RAN sharing, vendor or platform transitions, and network upgrades.

Overall, the goal was to increase efficiency in generating and deploying configuration scripts while enabling zero-touch network operations, enhance adaptability to new technologies like Open RAN and virtualization, reduce manual workload through greater automation, maintain activity traceability, detect and correct misconfigurations, ensure alignment between live network data and inventory systems, and streamline operations through a unified and automated front-end architecture.

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The Solution

Celfocus was selected as Vodafone’s strategic partner to address key operational challenges through a tailored solution. The result was the development of MOST (Multi-OpCo Scripting Tool), a robust tool that enables operations teams to efficiently execute business configuration scenarios.

MOST guides engineers through the process of scenario selection and automatically generates, deploys, tests, and commits – or rolls back – network configurations in the live environment.

Benefits

The solution, currently in use for configuration activities in Portugal, Ireland, and Germany, and for network analysis in Romania and Czechia, offers:

Reduce effort in creating and deploying configuration scenarios;
Apply business and validation rules to prevent network risks;
Minimize human error in repetitive configuration tasks;
Live network data to support accurate new segment configurations;
Validate network status after updates to prevent service disruption;
Enhance resilience to network software updates;
Detect discrepancies among network, planning, and inventory systems.

Project in a nutshell

Network configuration time reduction – from hours to under 3 minutes.
Configuration errors decrease, enchancing network reliability and service quality.
Accelerated time-to-market for new services and technologies.
A scalable, cloud-native architecture ensures adaptability to future network demands, maximising return on investment over the long term.