Vodafone is researching the potential of new silicon photonic chips to power the customer-centric mobile networks of the future.

The photonic chips would sit at the heart of Vodafone’s mobile base stations, providing an ultra-low latency, highly programmable and greener network. Their integration would support the massive advances in computation seen in new technologies like generative AI, cyber security (including quantum computing), and autonomous vehicles, to name but a few.

iPronics is joining Vodafone to work on the advancement of chip architecture to enhance new Open RANs

Salience Labs and iPronics are assisting Vodafone in testing the latest silicon photonics, which has the potential to process and deliver huge amounts of data faster but still securely, without compromising the customer experience or requiring more masts.

Vodafone’s work with iPronics within the field of radio frequency beamforming – the ability to bend and direct a signal to its intended recipient such as a smartphone user – ensures that all aspects (the antenna and the actual baseband equipment) of a mobile base station are covered.

For more information: Vodafone and Partners Shine Light on New Silicon Photonic Chips