Telefonica has selected Nokia to evaluate technologies enabling an efficient network evolution to 5G mobile.
Nokia and Telefonica will assess how 4G and 5G networks will lead to the creation of compelling new services.
Nokia has created a path to 5G for telecom operators using its 4.5G, 4.5G Pro and 4.9G technologies, which deliver increased speed, capacity and improved latency.
Nokia will focus on trials that maximize the use of Telefonica’s existing telecom network for meeting the demands of individual subscribers and the internet of things (IoT).
Telefonica will conduct trials leveraging licensed and unlicensed spectrum as well as Nokia massive MIMO capabilities to increase capacity in busy city center hot spots as well as in suburban and rural areas, particularly in markets where traditional LTE spectrum is limited.
Nokia will support Telefonica for trials that will use Nokia Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) for the delivery of ultra-low latency communications.
Telefonica will investigate network slicing techniques on a cloud-native core network using Telefonica’s UNICA cloud platform to leverage a common network infrastructure to deliver discrete services to customers.
Telefonica established the UNICA program with the aim of using network functions virtualization and software defined networking to transform the way it delivers customer services.
“We want to deliver the greatest possible network experience even as we expand our offering to both existing and new customers,” said Enrique Blanco, Systems and Network Global Director at Telefonica.
