Published in Network

Nokia wins BT 5G contract

by on29 September 2020


Filling the Huawei space


Former rubber boot maker Nokia has signed a deal with Britain's biggest mobile operator BT to supply it with 5G radio equipment.

The deal will make Nokia BT’s largest equipment provider and comes just months after Britain said it would ban China’s Huawei Technologies from next-generation 5G telecom networks.

The size of the contract was not disclosed.

Nokia has won 63 percent  of the BT contract, or about 11,600 radio sites, a source familiar with the matter said.

Nokia currently powers BT’s network in Greater London, the Midlands and rural locations, but the new contract will add multiple towns and cities across the United Kingdom.

BT Group CEO Philip Jansen said the agreement would allow it to continue the rollout of fixed and mobile networks, with digital connectivity critical to the UK’s economic future.

Under the current ban, UK operators will not be able to purchase 5G components from Huawei from the end of this year and must remove all existing Huawei gear from the 5G network by 2027, offering opportunities for Nokia and Sweden's Ericsson ERICb.ST.

While Nokia has been winning contracts from operators across the world, it suffered a setback earlier this month when it lost out to Samsung Electronics on part of a contract to supply new 5G equipment to Verizon.

 

Last modified on 30 September 2020
Rate this item
(0 votes)

Read more about: