VodafoneThree completes world-first network upgrade by integrating core and radio sharing while unlocking access to its fastest 5G speeds for up to 50 million people

VodafoneThree and Ericsson say they have completed a UK network upgrade that combines core sharing with existing radio sharing across a multi-vendor 4G and 5G network.

The companies said on Thursday, May 28, 2026, that the upgrade is a world first for the UK market and will unlock access to VodafoneThree’s fastest 5G speeds for up to 50 million people, or about 71% of the UK population.

According to Ericsson, the project brings together Multi-Operator Core Network, or MOCN, with Multi-Operator Radio Access Network, or MORAN, on a network that uses shared C-band spectrum across sites nationwide.

VodafoneThree said the change is intended to improve the reach of its fastest 5G service after integrating the Vodafone and Three UK core networks.

The announcement was also independently reported the same day by trade publications Telecoms.com and Telecompaper, which corroborated the completion of the integration milestone.

The companies did not provide an independent third-party performance audit in the materials reviewed, and the exact publication time of the press release was not visible in search snippets.