Nokia installs Australia's first integrated 5G antenna

Nokia deployed Australia’s first interleaved passive-active antenna (IPAA) in collaboration with Optus in Yeerongpilly, Queensland. The solution helps ease site-related challenges accelerating the introduction of 5G services across the country.

As operators look to roll out 5G, finding space on existing towers and rooftops for massive MIMO-active antenna equipment poses a significant deployment challenge for operators. Long delays in acquiring permission for site upgrades the potential strengthening of the supporting structures and potential higher rental payments to landlords can in combination seriously delay operators, such as Optus, in getting 5G services to customers.

Nokia’s IPAA solution was developed in collaboration with CommScope. It will allow Optus and other operators to upgrade existing sites to 5G by simply replacing existing antennas with a similar sized unit that supports all legacy technologies as well as the 5G massive MIMO-active antenna, all in a single compact solution.

By utilising this solution, deployment challenges may be overcome that typically hinder the introduction of 5G.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Olga