How Vodafone is tapping AI to automate 5G network operations

Vodafone and Zinkworks are developing a generative AI platform to automate telecom management and cure the headache of 5G network operations. The goal is to improve how well the network runs, and how little energy it uses.

The difficult part for companies handling complex 5G networks is you need super-specialised knowledge that’s often locked away in different departments. Usually, making and running apps for the Radio Access Network (RAN) means knowing both radio stuff and advanced software skills. This lack of combined skills can hold back new ideas, slow down improvements, and cost more.

So, this new platform, called Rapid RIC, is meant to take away that complexity. It basically opens up network management to let radio engineers build and use helpful apps even if they’re not coding experts.

Vodafone’s AI adoption and what it means for modern telcos

Rapid RIC mixes Vodafone’s data smarts with a simple visual way to do things, plus AI that writes code. Engineers can simply drag-and-drop to draw out how they want an app to work. Then, the platform’s AI automatically writes, checks, and puts together the code.

This skips all the hard parts like training models and messing with data. For Vodafone, this means they can make things way faster. They reckon they can improve their operations and put out new and improved 5G network features in just three or four weeks, instead of months. All in all, Vodafone and Zinkworks expect to cut down the time it takes to create and launch RAN apps by 60-70 percent.

This faster speed turns into tangible benefits for both the company and its customers. Since they can quickly make specialised apps (called rApps), Vodafone can stop doing things manually. These rApps can automatically strengthen signals when customers need them, find and fix network problems from afar, and turn off unused network connections to save power.

For customers, this means faster internet, better signal in busy cities and rural areas that don’t always get great service, and fewer interruptions.

This project, which should be up and running by early 2026, is already cooking up its first two rApps at Vodafone’s research center in Málaga, Spain.

The first app aims to save power by automatically shutting down mobile connections that aren’t being used. More importantly, it’s also trying to fix issues where these connections don’t turn back on properly, which can mess up the user’s experience.

The second app uses machine learning to tweak how radio coverage works. These settings are often left as they are from the factory, which means the network isn’t running as well as it could be.

Alberto Ripepi, Chief Network Officer at Vodafone, said: “We are working to simplify and accelerate the deployment of AI-powered applications that directly improve the customer experience. This platform allows us to focus on delivering a stronger, more reliable signal and greater network capacity while meeting our sustainability goals.”

How it works and the challenges

The Rapid RIC platform is made to fit into modern, software-driven 5G networks to improve operations, especially those using Open RAN tech. Open RAN encourages new ideas by letting operators mix and match parts from different companies at a single mobile base station.

A big problem with putting AI-made code into important national networks is making sure it’s safe. Testing new software that controls the network is always a bit risky. The platform deals with this by using an AI simulator to check apps before they go live. This simulator will quickly test new rApps and keep an eye on how they’re doing once they’re installed.

This simulation-first idea is a good compromise. It’s better than using old data that can’t give feedback on new settings. It also avoids the huge cost and hassle of creating and keeping up an exact copy of the entire network.

Tech-wise, the platform will use Vodafone’s current data setup, running mainly on its secure Google Cloud Platform (GCP) data centre. This private cloud lets Vodafone employees upload, watch, and put out rApps across multiple European markets at the same time.

Paul Madden, CEO of Zinkworks, commented: “Our collaboration with Vodafone marks a major step forward in how Open RAN applications are developed and deployed. Our visual programme technology used to co-develop the new platform enables rapid innovation, faster service upgrades, and better network responsiveness for users.”

This is part of Vodafone’s bigger plan to sell its network know-how. While Vodafone will own the platform, it plans to offer apps and services – like software testing and monitoring – to other companies in the industry.

Automating 5G network operations at scale

The Vodafone-Zinkworks team-up shows how generative AI is moving beyond just making text and images; it’s now being used to automate 5G network operations at scale.

For telecoms leaders, these are the key takeaways:

• Use GenAI to fill skill gaps: The biggest deal about this platform isn’t just speed, but how it opens up development. It lets experts (radio engineers) fix their own problems without needing to explain everything to a separate software team. Leaders should find similar situations in their own companies where combined skills are rare and think about if generative AI can help.

• Focus on practical testing: Putting AI-made code into a live system is risky. Vodafone’s choice of an AI-powered simulator shows a smart way to test things. This makes sure things are safe and high-quality without spending a ton of money and effort on a full digital copy.

• Connect AI to business goals: This project isn’t just AI for the sake of AI, it’s tied to real business results: faster work (60-70% quicker development), better customer experience (fewer dropped calls), and sustainability (energy-saving apps). AI plans should be linked to key goals to get support from executives and show they’re worth the investment.

• Build on what you already have: This project uses Vodafone’s existing GCP data centre. This means that good AI strategies will likely be built on, or connected to, existing secure cloud data platforms rather than needing completely new infrastructure.

Vodafone is basically creating an ‘AI factory’ to run their 5G network operations. The goal is to turn what their engineers know into automated software that can grow with them. It’s a big change from just using AI tools; now, they want to produce and use those tools right in the important parts of their business.

See also: AI regulations in telecoms: Navigating the complex web

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Tags: 5G, connectivity, management, network operations, networks, open ran, telecoms, vodafone