Nokia has handed UK-based engineering and services firm NG Bailey a distribution contract to sell its private LTE and 5G solutions into the healthcare, manufacturing, education, infrastructure sectors in the UK. NG Bailey said it will open a 5G demonstration lab at its headquarters in Leeds, Yorkshire, to support the “development of bespoke solutions” as its IT services division goes to market in the UK enterprise sector.
UK-based cybersecurity networking firm Infinigate Group is also involved in the deal. Infinigate says it supplies secure networks and cloud solutions – “to transform cybersecurity accessibility in Europe”. A press statement did not say much more of its role. NG Bailey referenced the supply of Nokia’s Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) private networking solution to provide “opportunities for the automation of manufacturing, logistics operations and ports”.
NG Bailey also referenced its work with Royal Mail – to “embrace automation and the latest in mobile technology” – as well as its sales focus on enterprises “of all sizes”. Earlier this month, Nokia announced a cut-down version of its DAC product for small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the industrial sector. Called DAC Compact, the new solution claims a smaller form factor to deliver LTE/5G coverage at smaller sites.
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Nokia has distribution deals with international and national reseller (VAR) and system integrator partners, including DXC Technology, Future Technologies Venture, Graybar, Kyndryl, Trilogy NextGen, among others. It is also working prominently with Chinese web firm Alibaba and French cloud services company Atos, as well as with AT&T and Verizon, and with Microsoft to combine with Azure IoT for operators and enterprises. Nokia has 500 smaller VARs in place, Nokia told RCR Wireless last year.
Kelly Tedesco, managing director of NG Bailey’s IT services business, said: “5G has been touted as… a key component to the advancement of the IoT agenda… We have one of the first state-of-the-art 5G labs in the UK… It will enable us to demonstrate how we can transform connectivity to build better businesses, empower people and enrich lives. The deployment of 5G is the next step in supporting the future of connectivity and allowing our engineers to continue to unlock the potential that wireless technology offers businesses of all sizes with regards to IoT.”
Stephane Haulbert, partner sales leader for Nokia in Europe, said: “We are excited to partner with NG Bailey IT Services and Infinigate, enabling enterprise customers across industries to leverage the power of leading-edge 5G private wireless technology. In addition, providing 5G private wireless in the lab in Leeds will enable their engineers to explore how the technology can be adapted and adopted to meet changing demands, providing increases in productivity and enhancing safety and security.”