Vodafone enlisted Germany-based network automation firm Inter.link to boost broadband speeds.

The deal will see the carrier employ Inter.link’s FlexPeer system, allowing it to interconnect with third-party ISPs, content providers, and other operators. The telecom giant said the move will help not only automate network processes but also reduce time and peering costs associated with connecting different networks, and allow its engineers to instead focus on planning “where the traffic goes when volumes increase.”

Initial deployment of the automated interconnectivity tech will take place in Germany, with Vodafone looking to migrate all of its local traffic from existing internet exchange points to the new system by the end of this year.

Further plans will see the pair extend the service to additional countries in 2026. Third-party providers connecting to Vodafone’s wider global network infrastructure will also be able to make use of Inter.link’s technology.

“By integrating Inter.link’s solution at the edge of Vodafone’s networks, Vodafone can concentrate on delivering improved services to other mobile network operators and broadband providers, thereby enhancing its existing carrier services model,” the carrier said in a statement.

The Inter.link deal is the latest in growing efforts by Vodafone to augment and grow its array of networks.

The carrier sided with Ericsson as its preferred radio access network (RAN) vendor for markets like Ireland, the Netherlands, and Portugal, with the vendor also picking up partner roles across Vodafone operations in Germany, Romania, and Egypt.

Nokia, meanwhile, got the nod as Vodafone's strategic partner in Europe and Africa, with both vendor deals part of the carrier's five-year RAN investment expansion plan.

Prior to the Inter.link, Vodafone struck a deal with Aptiv-owned Wind River to provide the containers-as-a-service (CaaS) layer atop technology from Samsung open RAN.

For Inter.link, the Vodafone deal comes as the firm continues to grow.

It previously entered into a partnership with edge data center platform nLighten as it sought to expand its points of presence across the continent.

Earlier this year, the German firm launched FlexDetect, which provides monitoring insights into Inter.link’s DDoS protection service. The vendor integrates the security solution into its IP Transit offerings. FlexDetect, unveiled back in March, acts as a way for users to monitor attack threats while evaluating Inter.link’s automated protection service.