Vodafone, A1 Group, and Ericsson have announced the successful first 5G SA (Standalone) international roaming connection between two distinct operator groups.

The link – forged between Vodafone Germany and A1 Bulgaria – represents a crucial advancement in enabling seamless, high-performance roaming experiences for consumers and, notably, for businesses operating internationally.

Unlike previous 5G iterations often reliant on underlying 4G infrastructure (Non-Standalone or NSA), 5G SA utilises fifth-generation technology throughout the network, encompassing both the radio access network (antennas) and the core network. This end-to-end 5G architecture is key to unlocking the technology’s most transformative capabilities, including ultra-low latency and enhanced reliability.

The successful trial paves the way for commercial 5G SA roaming services in the future. This promises travellers the same high-speed, responsive connectivity abroad as they enjoy on their home network, even in densely populated areas like city centres or major transport hubs.

For enterprise users, the implications are profound. The demonstration opens the door to sophisticated applications that demand consistent, low-latency performance across international boundaries.

This includes dedicated ‘network slices’ – bespoke virtual networks tailored for specific needs – potentially enabling remote control of industrial robots, managing autonomous vehicles in logistics operations spanning multiple countries, or supporting large-scale deployments of AR/VR headsets at international events.

The achievement stems from a collaborative engineering effort involving teams from Vodafone, A1 Group, and Ericsson. They successfully enabled data connectivity for a standard mobile device belonging to an A1 Bulgaria subscriber while roaming on Vodafone Germany’s live 5G SA network. This was all achieved using generally available core network software adhering to the latest 3GPP industry standards.

Beyond data, the team also validated the potential for superior voice roaming quality, leveraging features expected to be supported by future smartphones, including immersive surround sound capabilities.

Alberto Ripepi, Chief Network Officer at Vodafone Group, said: “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 Competence Delivery Center for A1 Group at A1 Bulgaria, added: “The world-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. We are looking forward to working with our joint teams to bring this capability to subscribers in a live network environment.” 

The technological underpinnings of the trial relied heavily on Ericsson’s solutions. The connection utilised Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core platform. Security, a paramount concern in cross-border communications, was managed through multi-level and multi-vendor Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP) platforms operated by both Vodafone Group and A1 Group.

Ericsson’s SEPP played a vital role, providing advanced integrated security features that protect both the network infrastructure and subscriber data privacy during international roaming, in line with GSMA security recommendations.

Monica Zethzon, Head of Solution Area Core Networks at Ericsson, said: “There are now over 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 will expect the superior service and high standard of security they receive on their home network to be offered seamlessly when travelling.”

The demonstration employed the standard roaming architecture defined by 3GPP/GSMA. This framework facilitates the automatic setup and centralised management of interconnectivity between operators, streamlining the process compared to managing multiple individual routes. This standardisation is expected to simplify roaming agreements and accelerate the market deployment of 5G SA roaming services.

The push towards 5G SA is backed by significant market forecasts. Ericsson’s Mobility Report predicts that by 2030, nearly 60% of global 5G subscriptions (around 3.6 billion) will be utilising 5G SA capabilities. Furthermore, consumer demand for enhanced connectivity is evident, with Ericsson research indicating European consumers are willing to pay up to 15% more for improved mobile experiences at large-scale events like concerts or sports fixtures—scenarios where robust 5G SA roaming will be essential.

“Roaming for 5G standalone is an essential part of the future of telecoms in a world where service quality expectations are high, and we are looking forward to working with collaborators like Vodafone and A1 Group to make it happen,” Zethzon concludes.

(Image by Mohamed Hassan)

See also: ETSI: Sensing capabilities of 6G networks will transform industries

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