Telecom equipment and software maker Nokia said it will launch 5G FIRST solution in the second half of 2017 for the early adopters of 5G mobile services.
5G FIRST from Nokia will support telecom operators to gain from a first-to-market advantage based on early specifications.
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Nokia said that radio access network (RAN) including Nokia AirScale massive MIMO Adaptive Antennas, packet core and mobile transport solutions on Intel architecture supported by Intel 5G modem are the foundation of Nokia 5G FIRST.
The radio access network components of 5G FIRST comprise Nokia massive MIMO Adaptive Antennas for 3.5 GHz, 4.5 GHz, 28 GHz and 39 GHz frequency bands, the AirScale System Module, AirScale cloud RAN technology and software.
Nokia has upgraded its AirScale and AirFrame platforms to 5G based on specifications developed by the KT Special Interests Group (KT SIG) and Verizon 5G Technology Forum and the platforms will be adapted to 3GPP as standards develop.
5G FIRST incorporates the multi-access Nokia Cloud Packet Core and the Nokia Shared Data Layer as part of a cloud-native core architecture to deliver the flexibility, massive scalability and performance operators need to rapidly and cost-effectively deliver 5G services.
The Finland-based technology company has extended its 5G Acceleration Services to include 5G transformation consulting, 5G phase one network design and 5G cross-domain architecture services.
5G FIRST is underpinned by technical specifications outlined by the Verizon 5G Technology Forum ecosystem.
Nokia is working with US telecom operator Verizon and chipset major Intel to deliver 5G services to homes in select Verizon markets such as Dallas, enabling next-generation video and entertainment services or other applications in the future, such as remote, in-home healthcare.
“Nokia’s 5G FIRST will accelerate the commercialization of 5G services to our customers. We are excited to partner with Nokia to bring 5G to the pre-commercial pilot cities in 2017,” said Ed Chan, senior vice president – Technology Strategy and Planning at Verizon.
Samih Elhage, president of Mobile Networks at Nokia; and Asha Keddy, vice president and general manager of Next Generation Standards, Intel Communications and Devices Group, at Intel are instrumental in the development of the 5G solution.
Nokia will leverage Intel 5G modem for initial deployments of 5G FIRST to deliver ultra-broadband to the home using fixed wireless access as an alternative to existing fiber deployments.
Nokia will expand development of 5G fixed and mobile applications working with companies in the 5G community as part of the ng Connect program.
The 5G FIRST solution will be made available for testing by operators and third parties in Nokia’s 5G Innovation City initiative in Espoo, Finland and New Jersey, USA.
“Nokia 5G FIRST features fundamental building blocks that are necessary for a 5G deployment. The technology will allow operators to bulletproof their 5G strategies/implementations even before standardization has been finalized,” said Malik Saadi, managing director and vice president, Strategic Technology of ABI Research.
