Nokia has been selected to form a new 5G deal with Taiwan Star Telecom (TST). The partnership will see Nokia supply the telecom with its end-to-end AirScale Radio Access network portfolio. This will assist the operator to launch 5G non-standalone (NSA) networks that will set the foundations for 5G standalone (SA) in the future. Nokia will be the only supplier in this deal.
Nokia has installed Taiwan Star Telecom’s LTE network that will be migrated to 5G services utilizing Nokia’s AirScale BTS and AirScale Radio Access solutions. This installment intends to deliver coverage and capacity to end-users. Nokia’s AirScale massive MIMO solution will also be supplied, which will offer comprehensive coverage. Nokia Global Services will execute rollouts, network design and optimization along with technical software and hardware support using digital and automated services delivery. Nokia’s end-to-end 5G solution ensures a simple migration path and a fast deployment for TST to support its requirements.
“Everything that Taiwan Star has achieved in this dynamic market is the result of our company core values that outline what a unique mobile service provider could be. We are proud to continue working with Nokia who will support us and help us to realize our ambition and deliver 5G services to our subscribers country-wide,” said Cliff Lai, president, Taiwan Star Telecom.
Taiwan Star Telecom has secured 40 MHz of bandwidth. The company is already begun the initial phase of network deployment. Early deployment will see 126 commercial districts and retail zones covered which is expected to be completed by Q320 with 80 percent of metropolitan areas covered by 2023.
“We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone with our long-standing partner Taiwan Star, demonstrating its confidence in our global end-to-end portfolio. I look forward to working closely with Taiwan Star Telecom to help upgrade its network and deliver incredible 5G experiences to its subscribers across the country,” said Tommi Uitto, president, Mobile Networks, Nokia.
This deal also includes multiple Nokia Software products. The company’s NetAct mobile network management system will deliver tools for troubleshooting, administration, software management and configuration management. Nokia’s Smart Plan Suite is designed as a cloud-native solution for the needs of 5G and IoT. It will provide policy control and converged charging capabilities as well as enabling the creation of innovative digital services with the agility and flexibility required to react quickly to changing market conditions.
Taiwan Star Telecom will deploy Nokia’s Subscriber Data Management (SDM). This is a critical function in telecommunication networks. With the arrival of 5G and the evolution to cloud architectures, managing all subscribers’ data and services efficiently is essential to ensure an operator’s business profitability.
Ken Briodagh is a storyteller, writer and editor with about two decades of experience under his belt. He is in love with technology and if he had his druthers would beta test everything from shoe phones to flying cars.Edited by
Ken Briodagh