Vodafone Germany's Next-Gen Network Upgrade with Vistance and HUBER+SUHNER

RICHARDSON, TX – March 24, 2026 – In a significant move to future-proof its vast German cable network, Vodafone has enlisted technology leaders Aurora Networks and HUBER+SUHNER for a major next-generation upgrade. The collaboration will deploy advanced Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) and Virtual CMTS technologies to enable multi-gigabit services, enhance network reliability, and create a more sustainable and cost-effective infrastructure for millions of subscribers.

This partnership sees Aurora Networks, a business of Vistance Networks (NASDAQ: VISN), and Swiss connectivity specialist HUBER+SUHNER (SWX: HUBN) providing the core components for a sweeping modernization of Vodafone's Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) network. The initiative underscores a powerful trend across the telecom industry: leveraging virtualization and distributed architectures to meet exponential data demand while optimizing operational efficiency.

“We are excited to be working with Aurora Networks and HUBER+SUHNER,” stated Michael Rabes, Director of Fixed Access Engineering at Vodafone Germany. “The collaboration... is long-term and promotes future cooperation. Our joint efforts will help Vodafone deliver a reliable and high-quality cable network assuring the best user experience to its customers today and in the future.”

A Strategic Leap in a Competitive Market

Vodafone Germany's decision to overhaul its network architecture is not happening in a vacuum. As one of the country's largest connectivity providers, with a gigabit-capable network reaching over 29 million households, the company operates in a fiercely competitive landscape. Its primary rival, Deutsche Telekom, is aggressively rolling out Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH), aiming to connect millions of new homes directly to fiber and challenge Vodafone's dominance, particularly in urban multi-dwelling units.

While FTTH represents the ultimate endgame for bandwidth, the DAA and virtualized technology approach allows cable operators like Vodafone to maximize the value and performance of their existing, extensive HFC infrastructure. It provides a cost-effective and rapid path to delivering multi-gigabit symmetrical speeds, keeping pace with fiber rollouts without the immense cost and time of a complete network replacement. This upgrade is a strategic imperative, designed to defend market share, enhance customer satisfaction, and improve the company's financial footing following recent market stabilization efforts.

The Technology Behind the Transformation

The technological heart of the upgrade revolves around two key concepts: Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) and the virtual Cable Modem Termination System (vCMTS). For decades, cable networks have relied on a centralized model where bulky, power-hungry CMTS hardware in a central headend managed all network traffic.

DAA fundamentally changes this by decentralizing network functions. It moves the digital-to-analog conversion point from the headend out into the field, closer to subscribers. This is accomplished using new hardware called Remote PHY (R-PHY) devices. HUBER+SUHNER is providing these next-generation R-PHY units, building on a decades-long relationship supplying Vodafone with optical and RF technology.

“This partnership is an important continuation of our support as the cable network solution provider for Vodafone,” said Jürgen Walter, COO Communication Segment at HUBER+SUHNER. “We look forward to using our deep and mature knowhow to further increase network quality and performance for Vodafone’s cable network customers in Germany.”

Complementing this is the vCMTS, provided by Aurora Networks' vCCAP Evo™ platform. This technology replaces the proprietary CMTS hardware with sophisticated software running on commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) servers. This virtualization brings the agility and efficiency of cloud computing to the cable access network, allowing for automated provisioning, centralized monitoring, and rapid scaling of services. Aurora Networks is also serving as the prime end-to-end system integrator, a critical role that involves managing the complex migration from the legacy architecture to the new distributed model.

“vCCAP Evo will enable Vodafone to significantly optimize the performance of its network, deliver multi-gigabit services to subscribers and to realize significant energy and cost savings in the headend,” stated Guy Sucharczuk, SVP & President of Aurora Networks.

Efficiency, Sustainability, and the Bottom Line

Beyond the performance gains, the business case for this architectural shift is compelling and aligns with modern corporate goals of sustainability and operational efficiency. The move from hardware-centric systems to virtualized software delivers dramatic reductions in cost, energy consumption, and physical space.

Research has shown that this transition yields eye-opening results. A cloud-native vCMTS can be nearly 40% more power-efficient than a traditional integrated CMTS. Power consumption per gigabit of traffic can be slashed by over 50%, a significant saving that directly impacts operational expenditure and reduces the network's carbon footprint. This is a critical benefit as operators face rising energy costs and increasing pressure to meet environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets.

The space savings are even more dramatic. By replacing racks of proprietary equipment with a few standard servers, headend rack space requirements can be reduced by a factor of 28 or more—a 96-97% reduction. This frees up valuable real estate and simplifies headend operations. For Vodafone, these efficiencies translate into a more sustainable, agile, and economically viable network, with some industry projections suggesting DAA can cut capital expenditures by over 40% while simultaneously boosting capacity.

Future-Proofing the Network for Subscribers

For Vodafone's 10 million broadband customers in Germany, this behind-the-scenes transformation will translate into tangible improvements. The primary benefit is a significant boost in internet speed and reliability, enabling seamless multi-gigabit services for streaming, gaming, and remote work. By moving network intelligence closer to the user, DAA reduces latency, creating a smoother and more responsive online experience.

This upgrade is not just about meeting today's demands but also about preparing for tomorrow's. The flexible, scalable, and software-defined nature of the new architecture allows Vodafone to more easily introduce new services and adapt to future technological evolutions, such as the convergence of fixed and mobile networks for 5G and the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT). The technologies have already been deployed in the live network, marking a successful start to this long-term project that promises to keep Vodafone's cable infrastructure at the forefront of Germany's digital landscape.