Finnish telecom giant Nokia proudly announced it has fulfilled the delivery of essential 5G equipment to Vodafone Idea, an Indian telecom operator. This strategic move highlights the company’s commitment to support Vodafone Idea’s upcoming 5G launch in key cities, starting with Mumbai mid-March, closely followed by Delhi, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Patna.
Nokia’s senior executive, Tarun Chhabra, emphasized the collaboration’s success. “Fast delivery and deployment of 5G and 4G sites for Vodafone Idea address the growing demand for reliable networks,” Chhabra stated. The firm is on track to deliver over 60,000 technology sites, including advanced 4G installations, by March-end.
For densely populated urban locales, Nokia is integrating ultra-lean sites to enhance service quality, reinforcing Vodafone Idea’s network strength. Jagbir Singh, CTO of Vodafone Idea, expressed appreciation for Nokia’s consistent support, saying, “The rapid 4G expansion significantly enhances coverage, facilitating an exceptional customer experience as we launch 5G.”
Nokia is also deploying cutting-edge 4G and 5G baseband and radio modules to fortify Vodafone Idea’s network. This deployment leverages the AirScale portfolio, featuring Multi Radio Access Technology baseband units powered by ReefShark System-on-Chip for energy efficiency.
This advancement marks the end of a two-year delay. Vodafone Idea had participated in the 2021 spectrum auctions, while its competitors Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio Infocomm quickly launched 5G services. Currently, both rivals offer 5G nationwide and have an extensive 4G presence.
The company’s recent tests in 17 Indian regions signal readiness. Trials occurred in cities like Jaipur, Karnal, Kolkata, and Delhi, operating on 3.3 GHz and 26 GHz spectrums, accessible to prepaid and postpaid users.
This progression stems from extensive agreements valued at $3.6 billion with Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung over three years, securing essential network equipment.