Advanced Television

Nokia, Optus claim 5G firsts

February 25, 2019

Nick Snow @ MWC

Network technology provider Nokia and Australian multiplay telco Optus have announced several breakthroughs to establish the first 5G commercial services in Australia. Optus becomes the first operator globally to deploy Nokia’s FastMile 5G indoor gateway in a live network and successfully launch a 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service using the 5G New Radio standard.

Highlighting a clear path to commercial 5G, the successful deployment enables Optus to use the 3.5 GHz 60 MHz band to deliver greater capacity needed to support multiple devices and ultra-high definition video streaming services in the home.

Nokia and Optus have partnered to launch 50 live 5G sites by March 2019 with sites already activated in five locations. Using Nokia’s plug-and-play FastMile 5G gateway, Optus will offer FWA services to select residential customers in Australia. This will further expand to include 60 as coverage increases, and more devices come to market. With Nokia’s FastMile 5G Gateway, Optus can achieve twice the indoor coverage, three times the downlink capacity and five times the uplink capacity compared to traditional designs. The successful test of Nokia’s 5G gateway is an important milestone in Optus’s overall plans to launch a commercial 5G fixed-wireless access service capable of dramatically enhancing wireless broadband performance in homes across the country.

“These are historic milestones for Optus as we focus on delivering our customers the very best 5G experience,” declared Allen Lew, Chief Executive Officer at Optus. “Nokia has partnered with Optus to accelerate our preparations for 5G and as a result we are first in the world to deliver live 5G NR FWA services using the Nokia’s FastMile 5G Gateway.”

“We are excited to partner with Optus on their 5G vision with solutions that will create a better, more connected future for Australia,” added Sandra Motley, President of Nokia’s Fixed Networks Business Group. With our 5G FastMile solution Optus will be able to unlock the full potential of its mobile network and deliver new ultra-broadband services to customers.”

Separately, Rajeev Suri, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nokia, said that 2019 would be a big year for 5G, with Nokia arriving at Mobile World Congress as a world leader in 5G, with the industry’s only end-to-end portfolio that is available in all markets around the world. “We are remarkably well-positioned with more than 20 5G contracts, and almost 100 5G engagements with customers in every region of the world. We also believe that there will be a virtuous circle of investment as networks are upgraded to meet the demands of 5G and Nokia has the right portfolio at the right time to meet that need,” he stated. “Nokia stands ready and able to deliver for customers everywhere. 5G is a truly transformational technology that will improve people’s lives, increase productivity and efficiency and enhance the sustainability of our planet,” he concluded.

Categories: 5G, Articles, Broadband, Mobile, Telco