In a bid to modernise and expand its current network infrastructure, SoftBank Corp has partnered up with Nokia. A big focus of this collaboration will be the development of standalone (SA) 5G coverage across western Japan.
Under the deal, Nokia said it will deploy its AirScale RAN platform, with Massive MIMO radios and baseband equipment. The implementation also covers the vendor’s AI-powered MantaRay offering for enhanced network management and self-organising network capabilities.
SoftBank Corp CTO Hideyuki Tsukuda stated the partnership enables it to build a “unique and high-quality” 5G network supported by AI. “The upgraded network will improve efficiency, reduce emissions and deliver a superior user experience”.
Mark Atkinson, head of Radio Access Networks at Nokia, noted its gear, powered by AI capabilities, offers energy efficiency and supports the evolution toward 5G-Advanced networks.
Source: Mobile World Live
Image Credit: SoftBank
