BT Makes Nokia its Largest UK 5G Mobile Equipment Supplier

Broadband and mobile giant BT (EE) has today announced a new deal that, as part of their on-going work to phase-out Huawei, will turn Finnish telecoms firm Nokia into their “largest infrastructure partner” for ultrafast 5G based Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment and related UK network coverage.

BT has already been working with Nokia‘s 5G kit for a few years, although until recently the Chinese firm Huawei was still considered to be their primary supplier. Naturally all of that changed in July, after the UK Government labelled Huawei as a “high-risk vendor” and moved to ban all new core and non-core 5G kit from 31st December 2020 (here).

In response BT is predictably doubling down on their existing relationship with Nokia (note: they also work with Ericsson on their 5G core etc.). The operator’s Nokia-powered network, which currently includes Greater London, the Midlands and various rural locations, will now be extended to also cover multiple other towns and cities across the United Kingdom.

Nokia will thus supply its AirScale Single RAN (S-RAN) portfolio for both indoor and outdoor coverage, including 5G RAN, AirScale base stations and Nokia AirScale radio access products. The deal will also see Nokia optimize BT’s existing 2G and 4G networks and work alongside them on the development of their future OpenRAN ecosystem.

The operator will similarly utilize Nokia Software’s ng-SDM and NetAct network management platform to support their 5G services. These build upon the existing network architecture and provide an immediate cornerstone and single platform for new 5G-based services. Finally, Nokia’s Cell Site Gateway product will be deployed to provide key backhaul connectivity.

Philip Jansen, CEO of BT Group, said:

“Digital connectivity is critical to the UK’s economic future, creating jobs and underpinning sustainable growth. That’s why BT is making game-changing investments in full fibre and 5G. In a fast-moving and competitive market, it’s critical we make the right technology choices.

With this next stage of our successful relationship with Nokia we will continue to lead the rollout of fixed and mobile networks to deliver stand out experiences for customers.”

Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO of Nokia, said:

“I am delighted that BT has extended its partnership with Nokia on 5G RAN, making Nokia BT’s largest infrastructure partner. Our two companies have collaborated for over a quarter of a century in order to deliver best-in-class connectivity to people across the United Kingdom. We are proud to support BT’s 5G network evolution and look forward to working even more closely together in the years to come.”

Some of the other locations where you can expect to be served by Nokia’s 5G network include Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Brighton, Cambridge, Carlisle, Cheltenham-Gloucester, Chesterfield, Dundee, Exeter, Grimsby, Hull, Ipswich, Lincoln, Newbury, Northampton, Norwich, Peterborough, Plymouth, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Swindon, Torbay, York.