- Samsung and Orange France completed a 4G/5G vRAN trial in Bordeaux, France, with expansion planned for late 2025.
- The trial advances Orange’s cloud-native strategy, leveraging AI and open networks for efficiency and sustainability.
What happened: Samsung and Orange France have completed a pioneering 4G and 5G vRAN trial
In the vibrant city of Bordeaux, southwestern France, Samsung and Orange France have successfully executed the first 4G and 5G calls using a virtualised Radio Access Network (vRAN) and Open RAN infrastructure. Announced on 3 July 2025, this trial followed extensive testing at Orange’s innovation labs in Lyon, ensuring robust performance before deployment. Samsung supplied cutting-edge vRAN solutions, including multi-band radios and 3.5GHz Massive MIMO radios, enhanced by AI-driven automation tools to optimise network efficiency.
The collaboration, which includes partners like Dell Technologies, Intel, and Wind River, plans to extend testing to additional sites across southwestern and western France by late 2025, according to Capacity Media.
This milestone reflects Orange’s strategic pivot from traditional suppliers like Nokia and Ericsson, who have long powered its networks. By embracing Samsung’s technology, Orange is diversifying its ecosystem and advancing its cloud-native ambitions, building on its 2024 trials of Open RAN in rural areas.
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Why it’s important
This trial marks a significant step towards flexible, software-driven networks that promise greater efficiency and scalability. Samsung’s vRAN and Open RAN solutions enable Orange to deploy cloud-based infrastructure, reducing reliance on proprietary hardware and lowering operational costs.
The integration of AI tools optimises network performance and supports energy efficiency, aligning with Orange’s sustainability goals and the telecom industry’s push to reduce carbon footprints. For example, Orange’s 2024 sustainability report noted a 10% reduction in energy use in pilot sites adopting similar technologies.
This positions Orange to meet growing demand for data-intensive applications like IoT and AI, while fostering innovation through a diverse supplier base. As the trial expands, it could redefine how 5G networks are built and managed across Europe.
