Nokia will provide MEO with Massive MIMO, baseband and remote radio head solutions from its 5G AirScale portfolio.
Nokia has signed a multi-year contract with Portugal’s Altice telecommunications brand MEO to modernize the telco’s existing radio access network (RAN) infrastructure, covering equipment that uses 2G, 4G and 5G, the companies said.
Nokia will offer solutions from its 5G AirScale portfolio that include baseband and remote radio head solutions, as well as solutions enabling Massive Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (Massive MIMO), an extension of MIMO that groups transmitter and receiver antennas to improve throughput and spectral efficiency.
MEO will also use Nokia’s MantaRay SON (self-organizing network solution) for optimization and network assurance, and will also leverage the vendor’s 5G research and development center in Portugal and its global delivery center. “This collaboration allows us to leverage a highly skilled talent pool, cutting-edge tools and operational capabilities,” Nokia claims.
“Our partnership with Nokia has already produced some great projects and we are pleased to continue working together to unlock the full potential of 5G technology. This modernization will enable us to bring exciting possibilities and create new value for both individuals and businesses,” commented José Pedro Nascimento, MEO CTO.
Nokia president of Mobile Networks Tommy Uitt said the company was “extremely pleased to strengthen” its partnership with long-time customer MEO. “Together, we aim to unlock the potential of 5G to help digitally transform industries and redefine customer experiences,” he added.
Nokia’s other recent RAN developments include a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Saudi Arabian telecom operator Zain KSA in March to study the deployment of Cloud RAN infrastructure, and open RAN trials with Vodafone that were completed in May.
