Page 23 - SAMENA Trends - May 2025

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Nokia Lands Strategic 5G RAN Deal with T-Mobile US to Enhance Nationwide

Connectivity

Nokia announced a significant multi-year extension of its strate- hance our current network capabilities as we strengthen our jour-
gic partnership with T-Mobile US, further expanding and enhancing ney supercharged with 5G Advanced, laying a robust foundation
the Un-carrier's industry-leading nationwide 5G network coverage for future innovation.” Justin Hotard, President and CEO of Nokia,
and capacity. The agreement will advance T-Mobile's network by said: “This new agreement strengthens our deep partnership with
deploying next-generation baseband and radio technologies. T-Mo- T-Mobile US, and extends their leadership in delivering next-gener-
bile’s network already reaches more than 98 percent of the U.S. ation connectivity across the U.S. By implementing Nokia’s latest
population. This collaboration demonstrates its commitment to AirScale RAN innovations, along with advanced virtualized and
further extending its high-performance 5G capabilities. Under the AI-RAN-based solutions, T-Mobile will unlock premium 5G perfor-
agreement, Nokia will supply its industry-leading AirScale Radio mance for their customers. I’m excited to continue our partnership
Access Network (RAN) portfolio – including its latest generation to shape the next chapter of mobile connectivity in the U.S.” Nokia
Habrok Massive MIMO and Levante Ultra-Performance baseband is T-Mobile US's long-standing partner in RAN. The combination of
solutions. These are powered by its energy-efficient ReefShark Sys- Nokia's advanced solutions and T-Mobile's “Challenger to Champi-
tem-on-Chip technology and will boost T-Mobile’s 5G network for on” strategic initiatives have helped T-Mobile to become America's
maximum performance, efficiency and reliability. Nokia will also largest, fastest, and most awarded 5G network, covering more than
deploy its AI-powered MantaRay SON and AutoPilot, a self-orga- 332 million people across two million square miles.
nizing network solution for optimization and automation. The deal
includes hardware, software, maintenance, and support services.
This collaboration will also advance T-Mobile’s network evolution
by leveraging next-generation RAN architectures that enhance
agility, scalability, and operational efficiency. Nokia will continue to
support T-Mobile’s groundbreaking AI-RAN initiatives, including the
ongoing technology partnership at T-Mobile’s AI-RAN Innovation
Center launched last year. The center is dedicated to integrating AI
into RAN to revolutionize network experiences and deliver stronger
business outcomes. Ulf Ewaldsson, President of Technology, T-Mo-
bile, commented, “T-Mobile’s nationwide standalone 5G network
has solidified our global leadership by delivering tangible benefits
to our customers. This new agreement with Nokia will further en-

Nokia Modernizes Vodafone Idea’s Optical Network to Enhance 4G Services

and Support 5G Rollout

Nokia announced that it will upgrade and expand Vodafone incorporating energy-efficient solutions and automation-enabled
Idea Limited (VIL) optical transport network across key metro deployment processes to minimize the carbon footprint. “Nokia's
and circle locations in India. The upgrade, which utilizes Nokia’s innovative optical solutions align perfectly with our goal to enhance
leading optical switching technology, will increase its capacity, customer experience and ensure robust network readiness for
supporting 4G data growth. In addition, Nokia’s equipment will future demands. With Nokia’s advanced optical network solutions,
modernize the network, providing flexibility and efficiency, and we are excited to build an agile, high-capacity and future-ready
boost VIL’s 5G rollout. Among the comprehensive optical suite of network that will support India’s digital transformation and drive
products deployed to enable this network overhaul include Nokia’s innovation across sectors,” said Jagbir Singh, CTO at Vodafone
1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) platform, and its CDC-F 2.0 Idea Limited. “We are proud to be selected by Vodafone Idea
wavelength switching technologies. In addition, Nokia will also (VIL) to modernize their optical transport network. We have been
deploy its market-leading photonic service engine (PSE-Vs) super- a long-standing partner for them in India, built on our trusted
coherent optics, industry-leading Dense Wavelength Division performance in network infrastructure. Our cutting-edge 1830 PSS
Multiplexing (DWDM) and optical transport network (OTN) to technology will ensure their readiness to deliver multi-terabit data
ensure VIL’s customers continue to experience great connectivity growth and support upcoming quantum-safe services for their
even during peak usage times. Nokia’s future-ready solution will enterprise customers. This significant milestone with VIL, further
also enable VIL to efficiently scale its network from C-band to C+L cements Nokia’s leadership in India’s optical transport market and
band as required, avoiding the need for any forklift changes in commitment to enabling next-generation connectivity in India,”
platform or architecture. This deployment will lead to reduced VIL’s said Sang Xulei, Vice President and Head of Network Infrastructure
operational costs. Additionally, the project prioritizes sustainability, at Nokia Asia Pacific.

23 MAY 2025