Vodafone Collaborates with Cirrus360 to Develop AI Digital Twin System for Optimising Mobile Network Performance

Vodafone Collaborates with Cirrus360 to Develop AI Digital Twin System for Optimising Mobile Network Performance

(IN BRIEF) Vodafone and Cirrus360 have successfully tested an AI-powered predictive digital twin system that enables engineers to simulate the future performance of 5G network infrastructure before deployment. Using Cirrus360’s Gabriel platform, the system predicts hardware constraints, traffic levels, and network latency while helping optimise configurations in advance. The technology can reduce testing time, improve resource utilisation, and accelerate network deployment, particularly in complex Open RAN environments. Trials conducted in the UK and the US demonstrated the potential of the approach, and Vodafone plans to expand collaboration with additional partners using its real-world testing facilities.

(PRESS RELEASE) BERKSHIRE, 27-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Vodafone and U.S.-based technology firm Cirrus360 have completed joint trials of an AI-powered predictive digital twin system designed to forecast the performance of mobile network infrastructure before deployment or large-scale upgrades. The technology enables engineers to simulate and evaluate how computing resources at a 5G radio access network (RAN) site will behave in future conditions, helping operators plan improvements more efficiently and reduce deployment risks.

The predictive system combines AI reasoning with a digital twin model that mirrors a physical mobile network site in a dynamic virtual environment. Engineers can use this virtual model to test different hardware and software configurations and predict network performance before implementing changes in the real world. This allows operators to avoid costly mistakes and optimise upgrades in advance, improving both speed and efficiency in network deployment.

The technology is based on Cirrus360’s Declarative Digital Twin powered by its Gabriel™ platform. The system can forecast potential issues such as memory or cache limitations and CPU usage, while also predicting customer traffic levels and expected latency at individual network sites. By identifying potential constraints early, the platform allows engineers to refine hardware and software configurations and ensure compatibility with silicon chips and other equipment before installation. The approach is particularly valuable for Open RAN environments, where network components from multiple vendors must work together seamlessly.

Vodafone expects the platform to simplify testing procedures and improve the use of existing infrastructure, including identifying underutilised computing resources. Engineers typically evaluate six to eight different RAN configurations before implementing network upgrades across a country, and the predictive digital twin approach could significantly reduce the need for repeated laboratory testing. This would enable engineering teams to focus on critical deployment tasks and accelerate rollout timelines.

Unlike conventional digital twins that rely on fixed programming models, the declarative digital twin uses rule-based descriptions that automatically adapt as the physical asset progresses through design, testing, and operational phases. By defining desired outcomes rather than detailed procedures, the system can automatically reconfigure itself while maintaining predefined operational boundaries, improving reliability and accuracy.

Joint testing carried out in both the United Kingdom and the United States demonstrated the potential of collaborative innovation within an open technology ecosystem. Vodafone plans to expand the partnership to include additional technology vendors and provide access to real-world testing facilities, including its innovation sites in Malaga, Spain, and Newbury in the United Kingdom. These environments are expected to support further development of AI-powered network technologies built on platforms such as Gabriel™.

Cirrus360 developed its Declarative Digital Twin platform with support from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund.

SOURCE: Vodafone Group