Nokia and NTT DATA have solidified their long-standing collaboration in private 5G networks by formalizing their partnership. After years of informal collaboration, this global go-to-market RAN agreement marks a transformation in their relationship. They were already working together on regional projects but had not consolidated their efforts into an official strategy until now.
Interestingly, NTT DATA has frequently spotlighted its partnerships with companies like Celona and Cisco, but Nokia had remained mostly unnamed in its high-profile 4G and 5G deals. Events from the MWC in Las Vegas disclose that NTT DATA’s prominent agreements with the City of Brownsville in the US and major German airports in Frankfurt and Bonn are built on Nokia’s radio access network infrastructure.
The partnership has also made significant strides in Thailand, establishing private networks across various business parks. They aim at a vast potential market of 3.2 million enterprises. In the US, Brownsville is highlighted as a primary joint project, turning one of the country’s least connected towns into an exemplar of connectivity advancement.
The alliance is set to focus on sectors such as ports, airports, smart cities, and Industry 4.0, where Nokia holds significant strength. Whether they will extend their collaboration into sports, hospitality, and healthcare remains unclear, especially as NTT DATA has previously utilized solutions from Celona and Cisco for these markets.
Nokia’s RAN portfolio, noted for its capabilities in mission-critical areas like Industry 4.0, plays a central role in this partnership. Their innovations in industrial edge solutions, devices, and applications further strengthen their position. NTT DATA may continue leveraging other core 5G solutions from partners like Celona and Cisco, incorporating Nokia’s RAN equipment into these environments.
This cooperation is framed around combining Nokia’s “private 5G RAN” with NTT DATA’s “technology services,” suggesting flexibility in core network pairing. The focus is on providing secure, scalable private 5G, optimizing operations in sectors such as airports and smart cities, while using projects like Brownsville as operational templates.
In statements, executives from both companies emphasized the growing demand for versatile private networks. Shahid Ahmed of NTT DATA highlighted their capability to deliver enduring, resilient solutions for today’s industries, utilizing their private 5G platform. Additionally, Nokia’s Mark Atkinson expressed pride in offering enhanced network solutions in collaboration with NTT DATA, aiming to accelerate digital transformations across key sectors.
