Page 55 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

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KDDI Awards 5G Network Upgrade Contracts to
Nokia

Finnish equipment maker Nokia has been enhanced Machine Type Communication network and launching 5G for consumers
selected by Japanese mobile operator (eMTC [also known as LTE-M]) enabling and industries.’ In a related press
KDDI (branded au) to upgrade its 4G LTE multiple new applications and services announcement, Ericsson of Sweden says it
network to 5G using its AirScale radio for industries in the 5G era,’ it confirmed. will supply KDDI with radio access network
access solution – which supports both Moreover, the network architecture – (RAN) gear to support the cellco’s planned
technologies. The launch of AirScale in which supports both the cmWave and commercial launch in March 2020. By that
2020 will enable KDDI to modernize its 4G mmWave 5G frequency bands – will also date, KDDI expects the first commercial
network and meet the growing consumer be transformed to enable 5G Ultra Reliable live fifth-generation services to be
and industrial demands for 5G, it confirmed Low Latency Connectivity (URLLC). available, with more than 93% coverage of
in a press release, adding that the contract Commenting, John Harrington, Head of 5G base station areas specified by Japan’s
for 5G radio ‘re-enforces the strong Nokia Japan, said: ‘This deal will allow telecom regulation body – the Ministry
relationship between the two companies, KDDI to get ready for the 5G era and we of Internal Affairs and Communications
which dates back over two decades’. are honored and excited to continue our (MIC) – by 31 March 2025. Under the
On completion, the nationwide network long-term relationship. As an end-to- contract, Ericsson will supply KDDI with
upgrade will deliver ‘enhanced Mobile end supplier of multiple technologies to RAN equipment, including products and
Broadband (eMBB) to consumers and KDDI, we look forward to transforming the solutions from the Ericsson Radio System
portfolio, allowing the Japanese firm ‘to
maximize its spectrum assets and enable
the service provider to roll out commercial
5G services in several parts of Japan
on [its] sub-6GHz and 28GHz bands for
5G New Radio (NR)’. KDDI’s selection of
Ericsson as a 5G vendor follows nearly four
years of close collaboration on 5G between
the companies. The pair have carried out
a series of joint tests across a wide range
of 5G use cases on the 4.5GHz and 28GHz
frequency bands, including interoperability
between 5G and LTE.

Nokia Showcases Its End-to-End 5G Leadership with New Future X Lab in
Finland

Nokia has opened a 5G Future X Lab at of Nokia technologies and innovations. In This new state-of-the-art facility is an
its global headquarters in Espoo, Finland, addition to serving Nokia’s 5G customers, extension of our Future X Lab in Murray
enabling customers to experience Nokia’s the Espoo Lab will also provide an Hill, NJ, and will enable us to better serve
full end-to-end portfolio of 5G equipment, innovation platform for internal Nokia European customers and innovate with key
software and services. The Lab will research, prototype development and industrial verticals. “We look forward to
enable communications service providers, testing, as well as enable engagement hosting customers from around the world
enterprises and infrastructure providers with the wider research and innovation at either Lab to experience network slicing
to learn and understand the techno- ecosystem. Marcus Weldon, Nokia’s and learn firsthand how our 5G end-to-end
economic power of a 5G end-to-end Corporate Chief Technology Officer and network architecture will help them create
network to better serve their customers President of Nokia Bell Labs, said: “The new economic value.” Nokia last year
and unleash new value. The Lab will Future X Lab is an extensive build-out outlined its Future X network architecture
showcase the strength of Nokia’s 5G end- of a 5G end-to-end network, enabling for 5G, which includes products such as
to-end capabilities with live hardware, customers to explore how a dynamically high-capacity 5G New Radio, core and SDN-
software and full network slicing, all under reconfigurable and automated network controlled ‘Anyhaul’ transport, becoming
seamless digital operations control. The can increase network performance in areas the only 5G vendor with a truly end-to-end
Lab will also include an “Experience Zone” of latency, capacity, reliability and security portfolio available globally. More than half
where customers will see demonstrations while reducing total cost of ownership. of Nokia’s 48 commercial 5G contracts

55 SEPTEMBER 2019