Nokia and China Mobile have signed a one-year frame agreement - valued at up to  €1billion - to underpin the mobile operator’s move to a future-oriented network infrastructure, while delivering seamless connectivity to meet growing data traffic demand.

Under the agreement, Nokia will provide China Mobile with best-in-class, end-to-end technology services to enable a next-generation network for the age of the cloud and machine communications. Nokia will provide additional elements of its mobile radio access and core portfolio in addition to fixed access, IP routing and optical transport, customer experience management, as well as its services expertise delivering the quality, speed and reliability needed.

Going forward, the companies will work closely to create the products and services that will enable the operator to explore new opportunities in vertical markets.

To that end, Nokia and China Mobile have signed a memorandum of understanding for research and testing of the artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning capabilities of next-generation networks for the delivery of intelligent network optimization and radio resource management.

Nokia noted that the frame agreement builds on a longstanding relationship between the firms in developing, testing and rolling out new technologies to enable seamless cloud connectivity and faster, more affordable internet access, meeting new demand while evolving networks for the future.