Orange France has selected Ericsson and Nokia for building its 5G network.
Ericsson is the #1 telecom network supplier in 5G business as compared with Nokia, Huawei, ZTE and Samsung.
Orange France aims to launch 5G services in 2020 once the government releases spectrum for the roll out of advanced services.
The 5G network with Nokia is focused on the West and South-East regions of France, zones where Nokia already supplies 2G/3G/4G on the mobile network (RAN).
The 5G network deal with Ericsson is focused on the Ile de France, North-East and South-West regions, zones where Ericsson already supplies 2G/3G/4G on the mobile network (RAN).
Fabienne Dulac, CEO of Orange France, said: “The deployment of 5G represents a huge challenge and is one of the main priorities of our Engage 2025 strategic plan.”
France government will sell 5G spectrum at a floor price of 2.17 billion euros or $2.4 billion, French Junior Economy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said in November.
Nokia
Nokia will provide a range of products and services from its 5G portfolio, including Single Radio Access Network (RAN) technology, automation tools, a network management solution and associated professional services.
Nokia said the infrastructure investment will allow Orange France to significantly improve customer experience, boost network capacity, enable automation and create new innovative services that require ultra-high bandwidth and low latency.
The new network will provide improved mobile broadband services as well as allow Orange to provide ultra-low latency applications in areas such as industrial IoT, health, public safety among others.
Nokia will initially support Orange’s 5G launch by enabling the rollout of its SRAN network to 5G through software upgrades, streamlining the initial steps to build 5G. It will introduce 5G New Radio (5G NR)-based AirScale hardware, and software for the new 5G frequency bands.
Tommi Uitto, president of Mobile Networks at Nokia, said: “Nokia has the right technology for this project, given our excellence in SRAN, 5G and end-to-end network infrastructure leadership.”
Ericsson
Ericsson has been selected by Orange France to deploy its 5G radio access network (RAN) in three major French regions, including the capital Paris, and modernize its existing 2G/3G/4G radio access network.
Ericsson 5G RAN products and solutions from the Ericsson Radio System will be deployed in the Orange network in the North-East, South-West and Ile de France/Paris regions of France. The Sweden-based telecom network supplier said the five-year deal will make Ericsson the major RAN provider to Orange France.
Arun Bansal, president Europe and Latin America, Ericsson, said: “Today’s deal in France is significant to Ericsson’s engagement with Orange.”
Ericsson has 80 commercial 5G agreements and contracts with unique operators, of which 34 are publicly announced 5G deals, including 24 live 5G networks on four continents.
