Nokia to supply Germany's LTE450 critical infrastructure network

Nokia has signed a joint venture with German company 450connect, backed by German companies from the energy and water sectors, to build its nationwide LTE450 radio network.

It will cover the supply of radio system technology for the 450 MHz network, including the central technology, radio stations, microwave radio links for the backhaul network and power back-up systems. Nokia will manage the supply and performance of all LTE components, including maintenance services, until 2040.

Operators of critical infrastructures will receive the platform they need to digitalise infrastructure, implement the energy transition to decarbonisation, and further secure the energy supply.

The Nokia LTE450 technology was selected for wide-area coverage and to operate services such as voice and machine-to-machine communications or Internet-of-things applications for critical infrastructure. The private LTE/LTE-M solution is optimised for M2M applications and critical voice communications.

Due to high demand, both parties have agreed to a rapid implementation of the radio network. Initial end-to-end tests will take place in the field by mid-2022 to ensure performance for the upcoming rollout. Radio services will be offered in the first regions of Germany in 2023. The nationwide rollout will take place by 2025.

The Nokia solution includes geo-redundant LTE cores, RAN network, Nokia Wavence microwave radio backhaul, management solution and installation, commissioning, integration, training and support services. In addition, 20 years of lifecycle network management of this critical network will be provided by Nokia.

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