Nokia & NTT DATA expand global partnership for Private 5G

Nokia and NTT DATA have expanded their global strategic partnership to drive Private 5G deployment across key sectors such as cities, ports, and airports.

The collaboration between the two companies has already achieved notable success, notably transforming the City of Brownsville from being one of the "worst-connected cities" to one of the most connected, with Private 5G technology playing a central role in this transition.

Globally, the extended partnership will concentrate on core markets across North America, Europe, and APAC, leveraging previous successful Private 5G implementations at locations such as Fraport AG and Cologne Bonn airport.

The first North American deployment under this collaboration is a carrier-grade Private 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) for Brownsville, Texas. This development represents an important milestone for the partnership, enabled by Nokia's 5G radio access solutions and NTT DATA's Private 5G Network-as-a-Service platform. The deployment provides Brownsville with high-bandwidth, low-latency wireless capabilities essential for public safety and other critical operations.

The Private 5G infrastructure is designed to address the immediate need for seamless connectivity in Brownsville, facilitating the management and operation of applications that enhance public safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability. This infrastructure prepares the city for future demands and positions Brownsville as a leader in smart city innovation.

The partnership aims to create more connected urban environments globally through the deployment of Private 5G technology, supporting digital transformation efforts across various sectors. NTT DATA's partner ecosystem contributes to the successful development and management of relevant applications and infrastructure, while Nokia's "anyRAN for Enterprise" framework offers enterprises more options for integrating best-in-class solutions.

Nokia's global experience in deploying large-scale networks, combined with NTT DATA's expertise in IT and OT integration, ensures a secure and high-performance Private 5G network. The partnership also provides innovative applications, utilizing AI, IoT, edge computing, and real-time analytics, which allow organisations to enhance operational efficiency.

Nokia and NTT DATA have previously supplied Private 5G solutions to Cologne Bonn Airport and Fraport AG, Germany's largest airport, allowing these organisations to improve operational efficiency and enable real-time data-driven decision-making.

Jorge Cardenas, Chief Information Officer at Brownsville, stated: "As Brownsville continues to grow as a prominent tech hub, the deployment of a Private 5G network is essential. This cutting-edge network will provide faster connectivity and foster the adoption of emerging technologies. By prioritising Private 5G, we're positioning Brownsville to stay ahead in technological innovation and economic progress."

Shahid Ahmed, Executive Vice President of Edge Services at NTT DATA, commented: "We're seeing an unprecedented demand for flexible, high-performance private networks. With NTT DATA's globally available Private 5G platform, we're uniquely positioned to deliver solutions that meet the needs of today's industries while ensuring long-term operational resilience. Our partnership with Nokia's Private 5G RAN allows us to bring our combined strengths to airports, cities, and beyond - delivering scalable, secure, and high-speed connectivity that accelerates digital transformation."

Mark Atkinson, Head of RAN at Nokia, said: "We are proud to collaborate with NTT DATA to deliver best-in-class network solutions that enhance public services and accelerate the digital transformation of key sectors such as smart cities and airports. Nokia's Private 5G RAN, combined with NTT DATA's technology services, creates the ideal platform for a wide range of use cases and we look forward to partnering on further innovations together."