Nokia has clinched a substantial contract with Deutsche Telekom to deploy mobile network infrastructure across more than 3,000 sites in Germany, marking a notable shift in Europe's telecom landscape.
The Finnish telecommunications equipment manufacturer will implement Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) technology, replacing existing Huawei equipment following successful trials conducted last year. The commercial deployment is already underway in Northern Germany's Neubrandenburg region.
This deal represents Nokia's comeback as a supplier to Deutsche Telekom, Europe's largest network operator, after being previously sidelined in 2017 when the German telecom giant opted for Ericsson's equipment.
The agreement includes collaboration with Fujitsu and features Nokia's O-RAN-compliant 5G AirScale portfolio, powered by ReefShark System-on-Chip technology. The deployment will incorporate high-capacity modular baseband solutions and Habrok Massive MIMO radios.
Nokia will also implement its AI-powered MantaRay NM solution to enhance network monitoring and management capabilities. This technology promises improved efficiency and performance across the network infrastructure.
The shift toward ORAN technology represents a strategic move in the telecommunications industry, as it enables operators to use cloud-based software and equipment from multiple suppliers rather than relying on a single vendor. This approach is expected to reduce costs while maintaining network quality and reliability.
Deutsche Telekom's Group CTO, Abdu Mudesir, expressed satisfaction with the network performance in already implemented areas, highlighting the positive customer experience. The partnership aims to further develop Open RAN technology throughout Germany.
This contract follows similar ORAN agreements in the industry, including Ericsson's recent deals with AT&T and Spain's MasOrange, indicating a broader industry shift toward open network architectures.
Note: I only included one link as the other provided articles about iPods and Mario AI were not directly relevant to the Nokia/Deutsche Telekom telecom contract story. The Huawei mention provided a natural connection to the Apple/smartphone industry article.