Nokia to boost capacity and coverage of Optus's 5G network

Nokia has announced that it will support Optus’s network evolution by boosting the telco’s 5G network capabilities and modernising sites in regional parts of Australia.

Nokia will deploy its latest generation of Habrok massive MIMO radios and its Levante ultra-performance baseband solutions, from its AirScale portfolio of 5G RAN solutions, to enhance the performance of Optus’s network. This strategic upgrade follows Optus’s Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) RAN-sharing agreement with TPG Telecom last year, reinforcing its commitment to providing broader coverage, faster data speeds and a superior customer experience.

Powered by Nokia’s cutting-edge ReefShark system-on-chip (SoC) technology, the compact, lightweight and high-performance Habrok 32 massive MIMO radios are said to offer a 33% boost in output power, helping Optus deliver coverage and capacity while significantly reducing power consumption. These flexible, easy-to-install solutions are suitable for new deployments and site modernisation. Habrok 32 enables Optus to maximise the use of shared spectrum assets in the RAN-sharing areas, enabling higher data rates and enhanced coverage.

For enhanced energy efficiency, Optus will also be able to take advantage of Habrok’s Extreme Deep Sleep power-saving mode, which switches off unused resources and reduces radio cell energy consumption. While saving energy, this feature does not have any negative impact on network performance. Optus will also benefit from Levante, Nokia’s AI-ready 5G baseband capacity card that delivers ultra-performance and enhanced scalability while cutting energy consumption to half compared to earlier product generations. Nokia will also supply Ponente — its ultra-performance, energy-efficient baseband control card — to support increased traffic growth.

Nokia’s AirScale base stations are AI-ready and equipped with ReefShark SoCs, which incorporate advanced AI acceleration capabilities. They also scale up to support extended AI workloads.

“Our deployment with Nokia’s new Habrok massive MIMO radio and new Levante and Ponente baseband modules marks an important step in meeting the growing demand from our customers for enhanced connectivity in Australia’s regional areas,” said Kent Wu, Optus Vice President Access Network Strategy, Planning and Quality.

“The Habrok 32 massive MIMO radios bring the right balance of performance and cost efficiency for upgrading our 5G network to elevate consumer experiences and drive business productivity. Through this partnership, we are expanding our reach for customers and bringing high-speed, reliable connectivity to more customers, communities and enterprises.”

Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, added, “The introduction of Nokia’s latest solutions in this deal strengthens our long-term partnership with Optus. Our AirScale Massive MIMO radios and ultra-performance baseband solutions enable fast network modernisation, providing a boost in 5G coverage and speeds for enhanced user experience while maximising spectral efficiency. We are also helping Optus drive network sustainability through software innovations such as the Extreme Deep Sleep energy-saving mode and the energy-saving capabilities enabled by Nokia’s ReefShark SoC chipset.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Dilok Klaisataporn