Transforming UK connectivity with VodafoneThree and Nokia’s 5G innovation

In 2025, Nokia signed an 8-year strategic partnership with VodafoneThree to revolutionize the UK’s connectivity landscape by deploying a state-of-the-art 5G Standalone network. This collaboration aimed to deliver unparalleled speed, reliability, and coverage, empowering communities and businesses across the nation.

VodafoneThree is investing £11 billion to build a future-ready 5G network designed to meet the growing demand for high-speed, low-latency connectivity. By enhancing network performance and reliability, VodafoneThree will deliver better customer experiences, accelerate digital transformation, and strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in 5G innovation.

Nokia’s cutting-edge AirScale RAN technology was selected as an integral part of the network. This solution provided the scalability, efficiency, and performance required to meet VodafoneThree’s ambitious goals. The deployment was executed with remarkable speed, bringing the first advanced 5G radio sites live in 2026, just months after the agreement was signed.

The collaboration has already achieved significant milestones:

• Rapid deployment: The first advanced 5G radio sites were activated within months of the agreement, showcasing the efficiency of the partnership.
• Enhanced connectivity: Nokia’s AirScale RAN technology is delivering faster speeds, improved reliability, and broader coverage to VodafoneThree customers.
• Nationwide impact: The deployment lays the foundation for a best-in-class 5G experience, supporting businesses and communities across the UK.
• Economic boost: VodafoneThree’s £11 billion investment is expected to deliver a £102 billion boost to the UK economy¹ and create as many as 13,000 jobs in engineering and construction during the build period².

¹ VodafoneThree’s £11bn investment will boost UK economic output (GVA) UK by as much as £102.75bn between 2025-2035 – WPI Strategy GVA analysis.

² Over the entire eight-year build period, VodafoneThree will create and sustain demand for, on average, 9,000 jobs, with peak investment years (years 2-6) seeing as many as 13,000 jobs created across the UK (74% outside London and the South East) – WPI Strategy report 2025.

VodafoneThree and Nokia are focused on the next phase of their partnership, which includes exploring AI-RAN evolution and network automation to enhance capacity, efficiency, and real-time network optimization. By 2030, VodafoneThree will deliver 5G Standalone coverage to 99% of the UK population, and 99.96% by 2034, connecting every community in the UK.

Together, Nokia and VodafoneThree are not only transforming connectivity but also building the foundational platform for next-generation technologies like driverless cars and augmented reality, while powering the UK’s digital future.