Nokia signs its first major 5G technology deal with Docomo

5G technology is the next big thing in the mobile and communication space. While the technology is slowly progressing many companies, industries, and even businesses are preparing themselves for the next disruptive innovation. As such, Finland based company Nokia has already started working on the technology and the company has now announced that it has signed its first major deal to supply new 5G wireless radio base stations to Japanese telecom operator NTT Docomo, which boasts nearly half of the country's mobile subscribers.

According to reports, this is Nokia's first big deal for its flagship mobile base station equipment based on official global New Radio (NR) standards for the 5th generation of wireless networks. The agreement was finalized in December 2017 and provides a solid foundation for the fifth generation of wireless network mobile base station equipment.

However, the financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. In any case, the new equipment is said to enable Docomo to provide new services for autonomous driving, industrial automation, and smarter homes by providing wireless links to millions even billions of wireless sensors. Nokia has further said that it will work with Docomo to ensure a smooth transition from existing 4G networks.

Just to help you understand 5G briefly, the term basically refers to the fifth generation wireless broadband technology based on the 802.11ac standard. Speed and coverage for 5G is said to be better than 4G and will potentially create competition among cable and telecom service providers. Some of the widely supported goals of 5G are over 1000 times increased data volume, five times reduced latency, up to 100 times faster data transfer speed, up to 100 times more connected devices, and 100 percent connectivity.

Coming back to the contract details, Docomo will start using commercial 5G network service by 2020, in time for the Tokyo Olympics. The installations of the equipment are expected to start from greater metropolitan Tokyo while the national roll-out will follow in subsequent years.

Nokia has been the major supplier of DoCoMo in both the 3G and 4G network eras, and the company has reportedly been working with the Japanese telecom operator since 2014 on trials of 5G equipment.

Meanwhile, Huawei and Docomo have also completed a successful joint field trial for 5G mobile communications over a long distance with 39 GHz Millimeter Wave (mmWave) band in Yokohama, one of largest commercial areas in Japan.

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