Nokia Extends Network Modernization Cooperation Agreement with SoftBank in Japan

Nokia announced the expansion of its partnership with SoftBank Corp. to provide advanced 4G and 5G wireless access devices in Japan through a new agreement. This agreement includes the modernization of existing network infrastructure and the expansion of 5G independent coverage using Nokia’s cutting-edge AirScale product portfolio. The deployment will take place in western Japan.

According to the agreement, Nokia will deploy its energy-efficient AirScale Radio Access Network (RAN) solution, which includes the latest Habrok Massive MIMO radio and AirScale baseband devices. These solutions are supported by its ReefShark chip system technology, which will provide ultra-high performance, coverage, and capacity while maintaining extremely high energy efficiency. This implementation includes Nokia’s AI driven MantaRay solution for enhancing network management and self-organizing network functionality.

Mark Atkinson, Director of Wireless Access Networks at Nokia, said, “This expanded partnership with SoftBank demonstrates the strength of our long-term partnership. Our solutions inject artificial intelligence capabilities, provide unparalleled performance and industry-leading energy efficiency, and support the development towards advanced 5G networks.”

Nokia and SoftBank are founding members of the AI-RAN Alliance and collaborate on research and development plans for AI-RAN and 6G technologies. These plans include joint research, on-site testing, and the development of a virtualized RAN platform. Both companies are conducting 6G testing in the 7GHz frequency band using Massive MIMO technology in Tokyo.

Hideyuki Tsukuda, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of SoftBank Corp., said, “Strengthening cooperation with Nokia will help us build a unique, high-quality artificial intelligence 5G network. The upgraded network will improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and provide our customers with an excellent user experience.”