Vodafone, A1 & Ericsson Achieve 5G SA Roaming First
In a landmark telecommunications achievement, Vodafone, A1 Group and Ericsson have successfully established the world’s first 5G Standalone (5G SA) international roaming connection between two distinct operator groups.
The breakthrough, realised between Vodafone Germany and A1 Bulgaria—part of the A1 Telekom Austria Group—represents a pivotal step toward enhancing cross-border 5G capabilities for enterprise customers and consumers alike.
Advancing roaming with 5G Standalone architecture
Unlike traditional mobile connections, 5G Standalone networks deploy next-generation technology across both the core network and radio access components. The comprehensive approach enables ultra-low latency and heightened reliability, opening the door to advanced applications such as network slicing and industrial automation.
Through the successful roaming connection, Vodafone and A1 Group have laid the foundation for a future where customers can access consistent, high-performance services while travelling internationally. These include reliable video streaming, rapid data services, immersive communications and critical use-case scenarios such as the coordination of autonomous vehicles or robotic systems across different countries.
Seamless collaboration and cutting-edge integration
The achievement resulted from a highly coordinated effort between engineering teams at Vodafone, A1 Group and Ericsson. The roaming test involved a mobile subscriber from A1 Bulgaria accessing Vodafone Germany’s 5G SA network using standard commercial hardware and software, aligning with the most recent 3GPP standards.
Beyond data connectivity, the demonstration showcased advanced voice roaming capabilities, which are expected to be further enhanced with immersive surround sound features supported by future smartphone models.
Executive insights from key stakeholders
Alberto Ripepi, Chief Network Officer at Vodafone Group, highlighted the broader strategic vision: “Vodafone Germany was the first operator to launch a commercial 5G SA network in Europe. Now, we are taking our expertise overseas with the world’s first 5G SA roaming demonstration.
"Ultimately, 5G SA roaming will enhance the customer experience at international events like football championships and provide the same consistent fast connectivity at a company’s warehouses and factories across many markets.”
Todor Tashev, Senior Director of the Competence Delivery Centre for A1 Group, A1 Bulgaria, emphasised the importance of the milestone: “The world's first international 5G SA roaming connection between two operator groups is a key technological milestone and we are proud to partner with Vodafone and Ericsson to achieve this.
"A1 is investing resources and expertise in delivering the best experience to our customers across all A1 Group countries and the completion of this initial connection is an important step toward providing European citizens and tourists high-quality connectivity on the go.”
Monica Zethzon, Head of Solution Area Core Networks at Ericsson, provided context on the global significance of the development: “There are now more than 60 live or deployed 5G standalone networks worldwide, with Ericsson Core and radio solutions supporting more than 40 of them.
"As more 5G SA networks go live, users globally expect the superior service and high standard of security they receive on their home network, offering seamlessly when travelling.
"Roaming for 5G standalone is an essential part of the future of telecoms in a world where service quality expectations are high. We look forward to working with collaborators like Vodafone and A1 Group to make it happen.”
Transforming global connectivity for enterprises
The pioneering 5G SA roaming capability will particularly interest multinational enterprises that rely on stable, secure and high-performance connectivity across dispersed locations.
From controlling industrial systems remotely to enabling immersive AR/VR experiences at scale, the collaboration between Vodafone, A1 Group and Ericsson signals the start of a new era in global mobile communications.
As the telecoms industry continues to evolve toward a more connected, responsive and intelligent infrastructure, the success of this initiative not only sets a benchmark for what is possible but accelerates the timeline for commercial 5G SA roaming deployment across the globe.
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