British Telecom (BT) Partners with Ericsson for Dual-Mode 5G Core

Ericsson has been chosen by BT to implement its dual-mode 5G core, which integrates Evolved Packet Core and 5G Core functionalities into a fully containerized, cloud-native Mobile Packet Core. This core will support 4G, non-standalone 5G, and standalone 5G services and will be deployed within BT’s network cloud.

This dual-mode core is a crucial part of BT’s transition to a unified IP network, featuring orchestration and automation capabilities, including continuous delivery and integration (CI/CD). It will also connect with BT’s existing customer experience management systems through Ericsson Expert Analytics and its built-in software probes.

Thanks to the containerization of core functionalities, BT anticipates enhanced innovation across several domains, such as automation, orchestration, network resilience, security, and expedited upgrade processes. This will result in improved network availability for customers and services, all while being cost-effective.

Ericsson’s 5G Core will enable BT to offer new services, including enhanced mobile broadband, network slicing, mobile edge computing, and advanced enterprise solutions.

More information can be found in Ericsson's press release.

Bharti Airtel Chooses Nokia to Enhance Network Capacity and Prepare for 5G

Nokia will implement its Single Radio Access Network (SRAN) solution to increase network capacity across nine circles in India for Bharti Airtel. This comprehensive agreement includes Nokia's AirScale Radio Access, Baseband, and other related services.

This deployment is also a foundational step toward future 5G connectivity, involving approximately 300,000 radio units across various frequency bands, such as 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 2300 MHz, expected to be completed by 2022.

Nokia's network will provide Airtel with an optimal platform for launching 5G across India, facilitating low latency and faster speeds.

Further details are available in Nokia's press release.

Rakuten Mobile Selects Keysight Technologies for 5G Service Acceleration

Keysight Technologies has been chosen by Rakuten Mobile to provide 5G network and channel emulation solutions, which aid in testing, validation, and optimization for infrastructure and devices, thereby accelerating the rollout of high-performance 5G services.

Rakuten Mobile, a leader in internet services, is constructing a fully virtualized, cloud-native mobile network that is 5G-ready.

Keysight's suite of solutions will enable Rakuten Mobile to validate 5G devices and infrastructure efficiently in over-the-air (OTA) test environments. This access to a comprehensive array of test cases, validated by the Global Certification Forum (GCF), will expedite protocol and radio frequency (RF) device acceptance according to the 3GPP 5G new radio (NR) standard.

More insights can be found in Keysight Technologies' press release.

China Mobile Chooses ZTE for Commercial 5G SA Core Network Equipment

ZTE has secured contracts in 12 provinces across six regions for China Mobile's public-oriented 5G SA core network project, winning 35% of the bid in 31 provinces for the industry-oriented network. This endeavor is set to establish the world’s largest 5G SA network.

ZTE’s Common Core solution, featuring a service-based architecture (SBA), microservice components, stateless design, and network slicing, aims to enable agile service innovation and operations. The solution meets the integrated access and service requirements for 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and fixed networks simultaneously.

With ZTE's Common Core, resources can be efficiently reused, achieving the target architecture without necessitating multiple upgrades, thus reducing investment costs.

Moreover, to fulfill the automated and intelligent needs of the 5G network, ZTE is providing its CloudStudio intelligent operations and maintenance (O&M) solution, facilitating one-click service provisioning and deployment through automation tools. This includes AI and machine learning for real-time network monitoring, analysis, and optimization.

More details are available in ZTE's press release.

Nex-Tech Wireless Partners with Ericsson for 5G EPC and RAN

Nex-Tech Wireless has selected Ericsson’s 5G Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and Radio Access Network (RAN) to help bridge the digital divide in key areas of Kansas.

This collaboration will safeguard existing customer core assets through software updates while also enabling support for new use cases that demand improved latency and data throughput.

Nex-Tech Wireless plans to implement Ericsson's spectrum-sharing technology, which will optimize spectrum allocation based on traffic demands using current infrastructure, facilitating a seamless transition to 5G.

In September 2019, Nex-Tech Wireless and Ericsson agreed to roll out 600 MHz 5G capabilities in important markets, allowing for Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Wi-Fi calling services via Ericsson’s cloud-based IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) solution.

Nex-Tech Wireless aims to launch its 5G service by the third quarter of 2020.

Further details can be found in Ericsson's press release.

Erillisverkot Finland Chooses Ericsson for Next-Generation Public Safety Network

Public safety organizations are increasingly adopting mobile solutions that utilize 4G and 5G capabilities for secure and rapid data sharing, including images and videos.

Ericsson will deploy its dual-mode 5G Core portfolio on a unified cloud-native platform, optimizing total cost of ownership and facilitating a smooth transition to 5G services. This includes Ericsson NFVI, Dynamic Orchestration, and VoLTE solutions, along with associated deployment, training, and support services.

The Ericsson 5G Core solutions will allow Erillisverkot to oversee its mission-critical broadband network, ensuring information security and data integrity. The network is slated to be operational by mid-2021, with a complete migration of all current Virve services to the next-generation Virve 2.0 technology by 2025, operating in parallel until the transition is finalized.

More information is available in Ericsson's press release.

Enea Signs 5-Year Contract for 5G Cloud Network Data Layer with Tier 1 North American Telecom

Enea has signed a contract that includes perpetual software licenses and associated services, such as integration, support, and maintenance, with a Tier 1 North American telecom provider. Revenue is expected to increase starting next year as more subscriptions are managed by the 5G Core system, potentially generating USD 3–4 million annually throughout the five-year agreement.

Enea is recognized as a leader in cloud data management, offering a suite of cloud-native software solutions for 4G and 5G. The Cloud Network Data Layer is integral to the 5G Core, based on cloud architecture that allows service providers to decouple today's proprietary network silos, achieving operational efficiencies.

More details can be found in Enea's press release.

Watch Communications Selects Ericsson for Evolved Packet Core Transition to 5G

Watch Communications has opted for Ericsson to provide a 3GPP-standardized Evolved Packet Core for markets in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky, preparing rural Midwest areas for 5G.

Ericsson's Cloud Packet Core solution enables Watch Communications to scale to 5G Non-standalone in the future. Additionally, they will utilize the existing Ericsson Network Manager to oversee both radio and packet core networks through a unified interface.

More insights can be found in Ericsson's press release.

True Corporation Thailand Partners with Ericsson for 5G RAN

True Corporation Plc, a Thai communications provider, has selected Ericsson as its 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) vendor as part of its national 5G initiative.

True will utilize Ericsson's products and services to operate 5G across 700MHz (low-band), 2.6GHz (mid-band), and 26GHz (high-band) frequencies in various regions of Thailand. The rollout began in March 2020 following the selection of Ericsson as the 5G vendor.

True and Ericsson have collaborated since 2017 to showcase the advantages of 5G for consumers and businesses in Thailand, including active antenna products that enhance beam-forming capabilities to reduce signal interference and improve speed. The deployment will also enhance system capacity and user experience through 4G/5G dual connectivity and LTE-New Radio downlink data aggregation.

Ericsson's Radio System facilitates efficient and cost-effective evolution toward 5G, allowing True to rapidly expand its coverage and implement new technology.

More information can be found in Ericsson's press release.

Turkcell Chooses Mavenir for NFV-Based IMS Solution for LTE and 5G Voice Network

Since 2016, Turkcell has been virtualizing its infrastructure with the aim of creating a unified telco cloud. As part of this transformation, Turkcell is transitioning its LTE and 5G voice network to a fully virtual infrastructure.

Mavenir, a leading provider of end-to-end cloud-native network software, has been selected by Turkcell to deploy its NFV-based IMS solution for both Turkey and its subsidiaries.

Mavenir's Virtualized IMS (vIMS) solution is designed to support LTE use cases and evolve into a scalable platform that meets Turkcell's needs as it transitions to 5G.

After evaluating offerings from other global telecommunications providers, Turkcell chose Mavenir for its IMS solution, recognizing it as a leader in VoLTE IMS and a significant player in voice and messaging services, handling over 11 billion messages daily.

Mavenir will also supply Rich Communication Services and Rich Business Messaging, along with a Dynamic Routing Solution for Turkcell.

More information can be found in Mavenir's press release.

China Mobile Invests $179M in AsiaInfo

AsiaInfo Technologies Limited announced plans to issue 182 million new shares to China Mobile International Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Mobile, which will represent approximately 20.0% of the company’s shares post-expansion. Following this investment, China Mobile will become AsiaInfo's second-largest shareholder.

The partnership will focus on areas such as 5G network intelligence, digital operations, vertical industries, and enterprise cloud services. This collaboration aims to enhance China Mobile's offerings in communications, information infrastructure, and digital services across various sectors, thereby accelerating development and fostering innovation in industrial transformation.

More details can be found in AsiaInfo's press release.

Summary: Major Players in 5G Technology

Based on the tracked 5G network and technology contracts from last month, the following companies emerged as the major winners in the 5G technology landscape:

• Ericsson
• Nokia
• Keysight Technologies
• Mavenir
• Enea
• AsiaInfo
• ZTE

This article was originally published on TeckNexus.