Like its competitors, Nokia is engaged in numerous 5G pilot and trial projects meant to help gain a better understanding of key technologies, use cases and applications associated with the high capacity and ultra low throughput of 5G. Here we take a look at five of Nokia’s carrier partnerships.
AT&T
In conjunction with U.S. service provider AT&T, Nokia demonstrated a fixed wireless 5G internet TV streaming application using spectrum in the 39 GHz band, which offers high bandwidth with the trade off of challenging propagation characteristics.
AT&T SVP, Wireless Network Architecture and Design, Tom Keathley said 39 GHz will “be an important 5G band in the United States…The work coming out of AT&T Labs will provide valuable contributions to future 5G standards, and allow us to pave the way for delivering significantly faster speeds and a better overal network experience for our customers across the U.S.”
Orange
Working with telecom group Orange, Nokia is testing underlying 5G technologies including cloud-based radio access networks, massive multiple-input, multiple-output, network slicing and energy efficiency techniques. Orange is using Nokia’s AirScale portfolio and AirFrame data center platform to transition from 4G to 5G with an emphasis on vertically-tailored services.
Orange Labs Networks SVP Alain Maloberti said, “We are preparing the evolution of our networks from 4G to 5G, with multiple services on a single infrastructure to deliver a quality tailored for each service requirement. Our new services will enhance people’s lives and accelerate the digitization of vertical industries.”
Zain
In partnership with Middle Eastern carrier Zain’s subsidiary in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nokia is exploring the use of 5G in support of internet of things services and applications. The two companies signed a memorandum or understanding during Mobile World Congress that considers establishing “a clear path toward building the next-generation ultra-broadband networks in Saudi Arabia,” including development of use cases, requirements and deployment scenarios, according to Nokia.
Identified use cases include industrial networking, smart factories and offices, remote healthcare, virtual reality and advanced video services. The two companies are also collaborating on a smart city initiative in Saudi city Jeddah. “With this MoU, we are now taking this strong partnership to the next level, evolving toward building the next-generation 5G networks,” Zain Saudi Arabia CEO Peter Kaliaropoulos. “We are confident again that in this journey we will mark many more industry-firsts, which will enable us to play our role in the digital transformation of the country toward the knowledge based economy.”
STC
Also in Saudi Arabia, Nokia is working with Saudi Telecom Company on 5G, IoT and the evolution from current LTE networks to LTE-Advanced, then what Nokia calls 4.9G. STC regards the partnership as part of the government’s 2030 Vision, which considers transforming Saudi Arabia into an “investment powerhouse,” and hub that links Asia, Africa and Europe.
STC SVP of Technology and Operations Nasser Al-Nasser said he wants to launch the first commercial 5G network in the region, “and we are confident that Nokia’s innovations toward the development of 5G technologies and IoT use cases, and their trials around the world, will provide a clear path for this.”
Smart
Phillippines wireless provider Smart, a subsidiary of PLDT, worked with Nokia on a 5G test that results in throughput speeds of 2.5 Gbps in the downlink with 1 millisecond of latency using 100 megahertz of spectrum. Smart is focused on 5G-enabled IoT applications particularly in the healthcare and smart cities areas. The test was carried out at Nokia’s Manila Technology Center, a 5G R&D center.
PLDT and Smart CEO Manuel Pangilinan said the test “is a key part of our efforts to transform the PLDT and Smart network into the country’s most future-ready data infrastructure delivering a wide range of gigabit digital solutions.”
