Page 38 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020

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Nokia Counts 63 Commercial 5G Deals to Kick Off
2020

Nokia ended 2019 rather badly when it
admitted during its third quarter 2019
earnings call that it was having to pivot
on its 5G chip strategy. But the company
is kicking off the new year with some
determined optimism. Nokia said today
that it had reached 63 commercial 5G
contracts worldwide. The figure includes
named customers such as AT&T, Verizon,
Sprint, T-Mobile, KDDI, NTT Docomo,
Korea Telecom and LG Uplus. The 63
signed commercial contracts exclude any
other type of 5G agreements, such as paid
network trials, pilots or demonstrations.
The company said if such agreements
were to be included, the total number of
5G agreements would reach over 100. and cloud network architectures. In 2020 and suspended its dividend. Last
It also said its 5G products are running comparison, Ericsson said on December fall, Nokia made the decision to move to
in 18 live networks. “Nokia is the only 27, 2019, that it had 78 commercial 5G custom SoC-based products. “To ensure
network supplier whose 5G technology agreements or contracts with unique that we execute on this fast and effectively,
has been contracted by all four nationwide service providers, 31 publicly announced we are increasing investment in system on
operators in the US, all three operators 5G contracts, and was live with 24 5G chip capabilities and moving aggressively
in South Korea and all three nationwide networks across the globe. On Nokia’s to strengthen and diversify our supplier
operators in Japan”, said Tommi Uitto, 3Q 2019 earnings call, Nokia CEO Rajeev base,” said Suri on the earnings call. Nokia
president of mobile networks at Nokia, in Suri said that when the company started has had three different people head up its
a prepared statement. “We have more than working on 5G, it chose field programmable mobile networks division during a four-year
350 customers in 4G, but these first 63 gate array (FPGA) silicon for its 5G time frame. About a year ago, it replaced
customers represent some two-thirds of products because it provided flexibility and the former head of mobile networks Marc
our global radio access networks business time-to-market advantage. But the FPGAs Rouanne with Tommi Uitto. Rouanne has
in a typical year.” The vendor says the 63 were expensive, and ended up cutting into since moved to Dish Networks as its chief
contracts include work across low, mid Nokia’s profit margins in 5G. The company network officer for its wireless initiative.
and high bands and across traditional lowered its guidance for full year 2019 and

Nokia and Angola Cables Trial the First Direct Optical Connection between

USA and Africa with PSE-3 Chipset

Nokia has won a tender to test and deliver operations. Nokia is a leader in this market to operate on a 23-kilometer section of
the world’s first standalone (SA) 5G system with extensive experience in providing the S-Bahn Line 21, starting at Berliner
for automated rail operation in Hamburg, GSM-R systems to rail operators in 22 Tor, one of the main transport hubs in
Germany. The project is part of Deutsche countries, covering 109,000 km of track. Hamburg. Part of the demonstration will
Bahn’s highly automated S-Bahn operation Overall, Nokia has provided networking, include fully driverless shunting of empty
project. The proof-of-concept will test cybersecurity, IoT and analytics solutions trains in an area near Bergedorf station,
whether 5G technology is mature enough to to 110+ operators for both mainline and based on the transmission of train control
be used as the connectivity layer for future, metro rail. This project to deliver the first information over the Nokia 5G mobile
digitalized rail operations. The project 5G SA solution for rail operation, further network. The Nokia 5G solution is based on
constitutes an early and important step emphasizes Nokia’s leadership position. 3GPP standards for 5G mobile networks,
in the development of the Future Railway By 2021, as part of the project “Digitale allowing highly or fully automated trains
Mobile Communications System (FRMCS) S-Bahn Hamburg”, highly automated to exchange relevant data with trackside
standard, based on 5G, and sets the stage trains (with train drivers on board who equipment by 5G radio. This will have
for the digital transformation of railway keep safety responsibility) are expected positive effects on cross-border operation,

38 JANUARY 2020