Telia will use 5G equipment from compatriot Ericsson in its home country but will turn to Nokia for its Finnish operations.
Starting with Telia in Sweden, the company has signed a five-year agreement with Ericsson which it says “brings together two of the region’s wireless pioneers” to provide a great 5G experience for the operator’s seven million customers in Sweden and Estonia.
“With today’s agreement, we have the foundation in place to develop the most trusted and reliable 5G networks in the Nordics and the Baltics. It is also the start of a multiyear investment in our networks, ramping up fully in 2021,” says Allison Kirkby, President and CEO of Telia.
“The partnership is truly ‘Made in Sweden’ since we have a long, innovative relationship with Ericsson. Together we have pioneered and enabled communication between people and businesses for decades. One such example is the 5G-powered self-driving electrical bus launched a few weeks ago in Stockholm.”
Ericsson will be the sole vendor providing Telia with radio access network technology which will see 10,000 sites upgraded to 5G.
“The full realisation of 5G’s potential begins with the network. With that in place, the true power to innovate, explore and experience the world through 5G becomes possible,” comments Börje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson.
“The next global game-changing network application may well be invented by a tech startup or developer using a Telia 5G network, leveraging Ericsson technology.”
While likely coincidental, Telia’s deal with Ericsson in Sweden was announced the day after the country banned Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE from its 5G networks.
Meanwhile in Finland…
The deal Telia has signed with local vendor Nokia in Finland is another five-year agreement. As expected, Nokia will supply 5G radio access network technology for Telia’s base stations—but that’s not all there is to the agreement.
Telia will also implement Nokia’s new SA 5G Core solution across all of its markets, which the operator says will provide customers with entirely new capabilities over time including connecting vital assets in factories that require extremely low latency.
“Our networks have never been more important and are the foundation of a thriving digital economy. Nokia is our sole supplier of 5G standalone core in all markets and of radio network technology in Finland,” says Kirkby.
Telia opened the first pre-commercial 5G networks in Helsinki, Vantaa, and Oulu in Finland in September 2018 together with Nokia.
“For over half a century, we have worked with Telia to deliver best-in-class connectivity – now that continues into the 5G era, as we supply Telia’s RAN technology in Finland and its core 5G network across the Nordic and Baltic nations,” comments Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO of Nokia.
Telia claims its 5G networks being deployed are up to five times more energy-efficient than previous generations and are powered by 100 percent renewable electricity.
(Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash)
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