VodafoneThree has unveiled a new 5G network slicing offering as part of SuperMobile service.

The UK network operator announced the launch of SuperMobile, along with a host of other services, including Vodafone TV, during a press event at Thruxton Circuit in Hampshire.

Thruxton is deemed to be the UK’s fastest race circuit, which was largely the point of Vodafone choosing the location, as the carrier advertised its latest offerings, which is underpinned by its 5G Standalone (5G SA) mobile network.

The latest announcements come months after Vodafone confirmed it will take full ownership of its UK JV, as part of a £4.3 billion ($5.8bn) buyout of CK Hutchison’s stake after it completed its £15bn ($20bn) merger with Three last year.

Indeed, Max Taylor, CEO, VodafoneThree, told the press yesterday that the carrier’s latest announcement forms the second chapter of the company’s new look since merging last year.

A key part of this next chapter then will focus on the company’s SuperMobile offering, which uses network slicing as part of its 5G+ FastTrack service. It marks a trend in the UK this year, where slicing is front and center of the mobile carrier’s 5G offering, with rival EE launching its own ‘Fast Lane’ commercial network slicing service last month.

According to the company, the proposition is its most reliable and secure plan, and is up to four times faster than any of its standard plans, while being based on the telco’s 5G+ service.

“So, thanks to Vodafone Super Mobile and 5G+ slicing, we’re the only mobile network operator globally to guarantee a minimum download speed of 15 megabits per second when customers are in 5G+ coverage, giving customers the confidence that they can rely on SuperMobile connectivity for whatever they need to do,” said Taylor.

Vodafone is so sure of SuperMobile’s reliability that it has pledged to guarantee minimum download speeds of 15Mbps, or customers can leave without a fee.

Rob Winterschalden, consumer director, VodafoneThree, likens the service to that of fast track at airport security, which in theory should, when working as planned, provide a much smoother, quicker service.

Faster speeds

“The UK needs to go faster,” said Taylor at yesterday’s (September 2) event. He highlighted that the carrier will be able to do so, as it leverages its combined spectrum assets.

He said SuperMobile is ideal for customers that want content on the go, or want to make the most of AI applications.

“SuperMobile is what our customers want, and with AI use cases rolling out more and more, it’s what they will need. If you believe in the potential of AI, then you also believe in the potential of SuperMobile,” added Taylor.

The service is available at an extra cost to VodafoneThree’s customers, for example, for £3 ($4.06) per month more than its full-speed Xtra plans.

Kester Mann, director, consumer and connectivity, FDM CCS Insight, said the company is seeking to monetize the 5G+ offering to claw some returns on its heavy £11bn ($14.88bn) network investment.

“By charging extra, VodafoneThree is seeking a new way to monetize its expensive investment in the latest mobile technology. Premium pricing hasn’t always been successful for operators, but our ever-growing reliance on staying connected, combined with new AI uses and insatiable demand for content, suggests its approach will attract strong interest,” said Mann.

The company’s 5G Standalone rollout still has some way to go, currently sitting at around 60 percent, though this is up from 46 percent after the first year since merging. By 2034, the carrier wants to reach 99.96 percent of the UK’s population with this service.

National slices

The launch of a national slice offering comes after Vodafone launched commercial 5G network slicing through its Vodafone Business arm in April.

While that launch was limited to local slicing, the company’s business arm has now extended the service to national level, claiming to be the first UK carrier to do so.

VodafoneThree states that the dedicated slice will provide businesses with up to four times faster speeds, in the same way its consumer slice will. Nick Gliddon, business director, VodafoneThree, said the national slice offers a premium service for businesses.

“That slice gives business customers access to a dedicated 5G+ fast track,” said Gliddon. “It’s enterprise-grade connectivity reserved exclusively for business use.”

Gliddon reiterated to DCD that the national slice is a separate slice dedicated for business use only, with no consumer traffic being carried over it.

Next year, the company will also launch a network slice for critical public services, such as the emergency services and other essential first responders and organisations. This service will be dubbed ‘National Critical Slice.’

“It’s equally important if you’ve got critical infrastructure that it’s supported as it is when you’ve got emergency services,” Gliddon told DCD.

“You tend to find critical infrastructure has different requirements… different applications, often different devices, and when you’re working with critical infrastructure, you’ve got to think through the process end to end.”

He notes that there’s a requirement to offer a more tailored service to support devices that are used by companies and organizations in this industry.

Is Vodafone in pole position?

During the event yesterday, VodafoneThree regularly pointed out its spectrum footprint, and some of the progress the carrier has made in the past year and a bit, post-merger.

The telco said it’s made progress in optimizing its spectrum assets, while it’s also eradicated 16,500 km² of not-spots across the UK.

“Put simply, we have the strongest spectrum portfolio in the market backed by the largest mobile network build program in Europe,” said Andrea Dona, chief technology officer, VodafoneThree.

“But the spectrum is only part of the story. The other asset is the scale of our investment: £11bn ($14.88bn) committed to build the UK’s best network. We’re adding capacity, we’re upgrading the sites, and we’re expanding coverage at a rapid rate.”

He even took a poke at VodafoneThree’s rivals, claiming that the carrier expects its radio site footprint will be more than 30 percent bigger than its competitors’ current footprint today.

Referring back to Winterschalden’s analogy of a priority service, Dona said that prioritization is one of the key features of SuperMobile.

“Slicing allows us to dedicate part of the network to specific groups of users. Prioritization allows us to intelligently allocate the resources when demand is highest, based on the type of customer and the type of traffic. On its own, they’re powerful. Combined, they create something unique,” he said.

“This allows us to give different weightings to different types of traffic on the network and allocate resources where they’re most needed. SuperMobile customers are given the highest weighting, and their traffic is prioritized.”

It wasn’t just mobile offerings being showcased yesterday at Thruxton, the carrier also unveiled its TV streaming platform, VodafoneTV.

This offering, confined to a small hub, brings together live TV, streaming, gaming, music, and a huge range of content apps in one place, without the need for a dish or aerial.