Wind Tre Expands Strategic Partnership with Ericsson to Modernize Core Network and Accelerate 5G Standalone Deployment

Wind Tre Expands Strategic Partnership with Ericsson to Modernize Core Network and Accelerate 5G Standalone Deployment

(IN BRIEF) Wind Tre has expanded its partnership with Ericsson through a seven-year agreement to modernize its core telecommunications network across Italy. The initiative will deploy Ericsson’s cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core solution on Ericsson Cloud Native Infrastructure to support 4G, 5G Non-Standalone and 5G Standalone subscribers. The modernization will improve automation, reduce operational costs, enhance security and increase energy efficiency while enabling advanced 5G capabilities such as network slicing and enterprise services. The project also supports Wind Tre’s strategy to cloudify its network infrastructure and prepare for long-term traffic growth and digital service innovation.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 5-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Wind Tre has expanded its long-term collaboration with Ericsson to modernize its core telecommunications network across Italy under a new seven-year agreement running from 2026 to 2032. The initiative will support the operator’s full subscriber base across 4G, 5G Non-Standalone (NSA), and 5G Standalone (SA) services while preparing the network for the next generation of mobile connectivity.

The new agreement builds on a partnership established in 2022, when the two companies began working together to introduce 5G Core capabilities for Wind Tre’s evolving network infrastructure. The latest phase significantly broadens that cooperation by implementing a nationwide modernization program designed to improve scalability, efficiency and service innovation.

At the center of the transformation is the deployment of Ericsson’s cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core solution. The platform will run on Ericsson’s Cloud Native Infrastructure Solution (CNIS), enabling the operator to manage both existing 4G services and emerging 5G Standalone capabilities within a unified architecture.

The modernized infrastructure is designed to support expected traffic growth through at least 2032 while also improving automation across the network. Increased automation is expected to streamline operations, enhance service reliability and reduce operational costs.

The project includes the evolution of multiple core network functions using Ericsson’s technologies and services. These include Packet Core systems, User Data Management (UDM), IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), signalling systems, provisioning platforms, mediation services, network location services and overall network management tools. Existing messaging platforms will also be replaced as part of the upgrade.

Security and resilience are also central elements of the modernization effort. Ericsson’s security solutions will be integrated across the network infrastructure, while additional automation tools will help simplify day-to-day operations and strengthen the reliability of critical services.

A key objective of the program is to support Wind Tre’s strategy of further cloudifying its network infrastructure. By adopting cloud-native technologies, the company aims to improve flexibility and enable faster deployment of new digital services.

The modernization will also lead to a consolidation of Wind Tre’s data center footprint. The number of data center sites will be reduced from 18 to 12, helping lower operational complexity and improve overall energy efficiency.

New generation hardware will also be introduced as part of the project, contributing to lower power consumption while enabling advanced 5G capabilities aligned with the 3GPP Release 17 standard. Among the features supported by the upgraded network will be end-to-end network slicing and advanced service capabilities tailored for enterprise customers.

Carlo Melis, Chief Technology Officer at Wind Tre, said the agreement represents an important step in implementing state-of-the-art network technology across the company’s infrastructure. He noted that Ericsson’s cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core will enhance scalability, security and efficiency while preparing the network for new services.

According to Melis, the modernization will allow Wind Tre to better manage growing network traffic and accelerate the rollout of new digital services for both consumer and business users.

Alessio Petreschi, General Manager and Head of Sales for Northern Italy at Ericsson, highlighted the importance of the collaboration in advancing next-generation network infrastructure. He said the project will help deliver more flexible, efficient and innovative services while supporting Wind Tre’s continued network transformation.

Through the modernization program, Wind Tre aims to build a more automated and energy-efficient network capable of supporting advanced 5G services and future digital applications.

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Source: Ericsson