Nokia Bags Multi-Year Deal From Reliance Jio To Build One Of The Largest 5G Networks In World

Finnish telecom gear maker Nokia on Monday (17 October) announced that it has bagged a mulit-year deal from Reliance Jio to build one of the largest 5G networks in the world.

Under the contract, Nokia will supply equipment from its AirScale portfolio, including base stations, high-capacity 5G Massive MIMO antennas, and Remote Radio Heads (RRH) to support different spectrum bands, and self-organising network software.

Reliance Jio plans to deploy a 5G standalone network which will interwork with its 4G network. The network will enable Reliance Jio to deliver advanced 5G services such as massive machine-to-machine communications, network slicing, and ultra-low-latency.

"Nokia today announced that it has been selected as a major supplier by Reliance Jio to supply 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment from its comprehensive AirScale portfolio countrywide in a multi-year deal," the company said in a statement.

Commenting on the development, Reliance Jio chairman Akash Ambani, said, “We are pleased to be working with Nokia for our 5G SA deployment in India. 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".

Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO of Nokia termed the deal a "significant win" in an important market.

“This is a significant win for Nokia in an important market and a new customer with one of the largest RAN footprints in the world. This ambitious project will introduce millions of people across India to premium 5G services, enabled by our industry-leading AirScale portfolio," Lundmark said.

"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 added.

Nokia has a long-standing presence in India. This new deal will mean that Nokia is now supplying India’s three largest mobile operators, the company said.