Ericsson has won a contract to support VTel Wireless' 5G Standalone (5G SA) network rollout.

As part of the agreement, Ericsson will provide its 5G Core and RAN to VTel, a regional US telco.

Founded in 2013, VTel Wireless offers 4G LTE and VoLTE Internet and mobile voice solutions throughout the state of Vermont, eastern New York, and Western New Hampshire.

Ericsson claims that VTel Wireless will become the first US carrier to fully support 5G SA VoNR (Voice over New Radio) roaming with nationwide communications service providers.

VoNR allows for calls to be made over 5G SA, as opposed to relying on 4G LTE. Roaming agreements currently rely on 4G LTE VoLTE underlays for voice, but the new core network will enable end-to-end 5G roaming with VoNR, notes Ericsson.

As part of this, subscribers of other national CSPs will be able to maintain 5G SA quality connectivity in the rural areas served by VTel Wireless.

"Our 5G Standalone and VoNR deployment with Ericsson is VTel’s way of turning that vision into reality for some of the most rural communities in America, so that Vermonters and visitors alike can count on world-class connectivity wherever they live, work, or roam," said Dr. Michel Guité, chairman and CEO of VTel Wireless.

Ericsson will work with VTel to deploy core evolution and cloud-native solutions across Vermont, which includes Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core solution and advanced RAN technologies.

The partnership will enable VTel to bolster its nationwide connectivity offering, while extending 5G capabilities to some of the country's most remote areas.

"Delivering full 5G SA voice and inter-operator connectivity also supports future spectrum consolidation by removing the need to maintain 3G or 4G networks for voice services," notes Ericsson.

“By adopting a cloud-native 5G Core and enabling VoNR-based roaming, VTel is extending fully native 5G capabilities into rural America with trusted products and solutions - strengthening nationwide interoperability while delivering the performance, flexibility, and future readiness required for the next phase of wireless innovation," added Per Wahlen, SVP and head of customer unit US hyperscalers & regional accounts, Ericsson Americas.