Nokia has struck a key U$3.5 billion agreement with T-Mobile to support the rollout of the operator’s planned nationwide US 5G network.
Under the agreement, Nokia will provide T-Mobile with its complete end-to-end 5G technology, software and services portfolio. It said it will be assisting “the Un-carrier in its efforts to bring its 5G network to market for customers in the critical first years of the 5G cycle.”
Nokia will help build T-Mobile’s 5G network with 600 MHz and 28 GHz millimeter wave 5G capabilities compliant with 3GPP 5G New Radio (NR) standards.
Specifically, T-Mobile will utilise a range of products across Nokia’s end-to-end 5G technology, software and services portfolio, including commercial AirScale radio platforms and cloud-native core, AirFrame hardware, CloudBand software, SON and 5G Acceleration Services.
Nokia said the collaboration will see the firms developing, testing and launching next generation of connectivity services covering a wide range of industries, including enterprise, smart cities, utilities, transportation, health, manufacturing, retail, agriculture and government agencies.
“Nokia and T-Mobile will advance the large-scale deployment of 5G services throughout the United States,” said Nokia chief customer operations officer Ashish Chowdhary.
“This is a testament to our companies’ strong and productive working relationship, one which has produced several important technological milestones in recent months, and which now allows us to make 5G a commercial reality.”
Nokia said 5G promises to enable faster speeds, massive connectivity, decade-long battery life for sensors and super-responsive and reliable networks for customers. “This will unleash on-demand virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences, driverless vehicles, medical monitoring, advanced industrial automation services, and so much more – all requiring ubiquitous low latency connectivity,” the vendor added.
“We are all in on 5G,” said T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray. “Every dollar we spend is a 5G dollar, and our agreement with Nokia underscores the kind of investment we’re making to bring customers a mobile, nationwide 5G network. “
