Technology: Nokia to fly with Reliance Jio in India’s 5G telecom sky
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Reliance Jio has selected Nokia as a major supplier for the just-launched 5G network, the Finnish telecom equipment maker said on Monday, as India’s biggest mobile carrier gears up to expand next-generation wireless services across the country.
Nokia will supply Reliance Jio, which has over 420 million customers, with 5G radio access network (RAN) equipment in a multi-year deal, the company said in a statement.
Under the contract, “Nokia will supply equipment from its AirScale portfolio, including base stations, high-capacity 5G Massive MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) antennas, and Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) to support different spectrum bands, and self-organizing network software,” it said.
Reliance Jio would deploy a 5G standalone network which will inter-work with its 4G network. It will enable Jio to deliver advanced 5G services such as massive machine-to-machine communications, network slicing, and ultra-low latency.
5G data speeds in India are expected to be about 10 times faster than those of 4G, with the network seen as vital for emerging technologies like self-driving cars and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the media reported on Monday.
Reliance Jio acquired airwaves worth USD 11 billion in a USD 19 billion 5G spectrum auction in August and launched 5G services in select cities. It is also working with Alphabet Inc’s Google to launch a budget 5G smartphone.
On October 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 5G services in 13 select cities across India. It is expected to cover the entire country by March 2024 as the three major players—Reliance Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone-Idea—expand their networks and services.
As India’s telecom service providers roll out 5G services, the government is also pushing top mobile phone manufacturers, like Apple Inc, Samsung, and others, to prioritize rolling out software upgrades to support 5G, amid concerns that many of their models are not ready for the high-speed service.
India and some other countries have either banned or discouraged the use of China’s Huawei in their national networks for 5G services.
“Jio is committed to continuously investing in the latest network technologies to enhance the experience of all of its customers. We are confident that our partnership with Nokia will deliver one of the most advanced 5G networks globally,” Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio, said.
Also, Reliance Jio plans to raise an additional USD 1.5 billion via external commercial borrowings (ECBs) to fund its 5G capital expenditure plans.
Pekka Lundmark, President, and CEO of Nokia termed the deal a “significant win” in an important market.
“This ambitious project will introduce millions of people across India to premium 5G services, enabled by our industry-leading AirScale portfolio. We are proud that Reliance Jio has placed its trust in our technology and we look forward to a long and productive partnership with them,” Lundmark said.
Nokia has a long-standing presence in India. With this deal, Nokia will be a supplier to India’s three largest mobile operators.
