Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia has reportedly bagged a new 5G deal from Taiwan Star Telecom (TST). As per the deal, Nokia will supply its end-to-end AirScale Radio Access Network (RAN) portfolio.

The RAN portfolio will help TST to deploy non-standalone (NSA) 5G networks, laying the foundations for the deployment of standalone 5G networks in the future. The smartphone maker is the only supplier in this deal.

TST had recently secured a 40MHz bandwidth and has already started the initial phase of 5G deployment. The network will be initially deployed across 126 commercial districts as well as retail zones, which is anticipated to be completed by the third quarter of this year. TST expects 80% of metropolitan areas to be covered by 2023.

Nokia had previously deployed TST’s LTE network, which will now be upgraded to offer 5G services, leveraging Nokia’s AirScale RAN and AirScale BTS solutions to deliver increased capacity and coverage to customers.

As per sources familiar with the development, Nokia will also offer its AirScale MIMO solution to offer excellent coverage. Nokia Global Services will extend hardware as well as software support and execute rollouts, network design, and optimization using digital and automated services delivery.

Nokia will offer multiple software products according to the deal. The Nokia NetAct mobile network management system will offer cutting-edge tools for administration, software management, configuration management, and troubleshooting.

Also read: Nokia to help LG Uplus upgrade IP transport and core networks for 5G

Nokia’s Smart Plan Suite, a cloud-native solution built to support 5G and IoT operations, will offer converged charging capabilities and enhanced policy control. It will also enable the development of innovative digital services with the flexibility and agility needed to adapt to changing market conditions.

Taiwan Star president Cliff Lai said the group is proud to continue its collaboration with Nokia who will help the company to deliver comprehensive 5G services to subscribers across the country.

Nokia is thrilled to have reached this crucial milestone with its long-standing partner Taiwan Star, noted Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks, Nokia, adding that it highlights Taiwan Star’s confidence in Nokia’s global end-to-end portfolio.

He added that the team looks forward to working closely with TST to help upgrade its network and deliver robust 5G experienced to customers.

Source: https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2020/05/18/nokia-selected-by-taiwan-star-telecom-as-5g-network-provider/