Nokia has announced a significant expansion of its partnership with SoftBank Corp. through a network modernization deal in Japan. This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of 5G technology, with both companies aiming to create a unique and high-quality network powered by AI. The deal includes Nokia's cutting-edge AirScale portfolio and AI-powered MantaRay solution, designed to modernize and expand SoftBank's 4G and 5G networks in Japan. This partnership is a testament to the strength of Nokia's long-standing relationship with SoftBank, leveraging AI capabilities to deliver unparalleled performance and industry-leading energy efficiency. The collaboration is particularly notable as Nokia and SoftBank are founding members of the AI-RAN Alliance, and are also working together on research and development initiatives in AI-RAN and 6G technologies. These initiatives include joint research, field trials, and the development of a virtualized RAN platform. Both companies are conducting tests in the 7 GHz frequency band for 6G in Tokyo using Massive MIMO technology. According to Mark Atkinson, Head of Radio Access Networks at Nokia, this partnership demonstrates the company's commitment to creating technology that helps the world act together. Hideyuki Tsukuda, Executive Vice President and CTO at SoftBank Corp., emphasized the benefits of the upgraded network, stating that it will improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and deliver a superior user experience to customers. The partnership also highlights Nokia's position as a B2B technology innovation leader, pioneering networks that sense, think, and act by leveraging its work across mobile, fixed, and cloud networks. In addition, Nokia creates value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation. With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, Nokia's high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises, and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable, and sustainable networks today and work with them to create the digital services and applications of the future.
