Telecommunications giant Bell Canada and technology innovation leader Nokia have announced a major expansion of their 5G network infrastructure partnership, advancing Canada's digital landscape. The collaboration will focus on deploying Cloud RAN (Radio Access Network) technology and set the groundwork for future Open RAN advancements.
This partnership, a cornerstone of Bell’s broader Open RAN vision, will utilize Nokia’s anyRAN approach to provide flexible evolution options such as purpose-built, hybrid, or Cloud RAN solutions. This strategic move will enhance network monetization, improve interoperability, increase vendor diversity, and reduce dependence on a single vendor.
Bell and Nokia’s collaboration is poised to deliver unprecedented network agility, scalability, and efficiency. By merging Nokia’s cutting-edge Cloud RAN solution with Bell’s forward-thinking Open RAN vision, the initiative will deliver exceptional customer experience and cement Bell’s position as a leader in 5G evolution.
Also Read: Bell Canada Pushing Open RAN
Leveraging Collaboration to Accelerate Innovation
Built on a foundation of Red Hat OpenShift and supported by Dell Technologies infrastructure, Bell will deploy Nokia’s commercial Cloud RAN solution. Nokia will also provide equipment from its energy-efficient 5G AirScale portfolio to ensure consistent performance in the network’s evolution.
Powered by Red Hat OpenShift, the cloud-native architecture will offer scalability and agility, allowing Bell to adapt its network to meet customer demands. Meanwhile, the deployment of Dell PowerEdge servers at cell sites and data centers further accelerates this agility, providing the essential processing power and reliability needed for 5G workloads.
Nokia will also provide its Cloud RAN software and Open fronthaul hardware-capable radios, while supplying its AI-powered radio network management solution MantaRay NM to support all radio and mobile core technologies.
Nokia’s President of Mobile Networks, Tommi Uitto, highlighted the strength of the company’s RAN technology portfolio and anyRAN approach, enabling feature and performance consistency. “We are proud to support Bell on their cloud journey, which will bring the readiness and scalability to enable new use cases and drive new revenue models for 5G monetization.”
Commenting on the importance of the expanded partnership with Nokia, Mark McDonald, Senior Vice President for Networks at Bell, emphasized, “By leveraging Nokia’s cutting-edge Cloud RAN technology, we’re not only significantly enhancing our network capabilities today, but also building a strong foundation for the future adoption of Open RAN. This approach ensures network agility, scalability, and vendor diversity, ultimately delivering an exceptional experience for our customers and positioning Bell as a leader in 5G innovation.”
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