Nokia has secured a new extension deal with Taiwanese operator Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) to modernize and enhance its 5G network in Taiwan’s central and southern regions. This partnership, spanning a year, aims to bolster network performance, capacity, and energy efficiency. The effort also sets the stage for CHT’s evolution towards the 5G-Advanced era.
Deployment has started, with completion anticipated in twelve months. Under the agreement, Nokia will utilize its 5G AirScale technology featuring baseband units, Massive MIMO radios, and Remote Radio Head products. The upgrade also includes components from Nokia’s AirScale Pandion FDD multiband remote radio heads. Additionally, these technologies are powered by Nokia’s ReefShark SoC technology, offering digital deployment, optimization, and technical support services.
A notable element of this upgrade is the integration of Nokia’s AI-driven MantaRay solutions, which advance network monitoring and management. Leveraging MantaRay NM and SON, the system allows self-configuring network modules enhancing both performance and efficiency. Alongside, Nokia will deploy the 7250 interconnect router to aid baseband aggregation.
“This new improved deal with our technology partner, Nokia, will prepare our network for the 5G-Advanced era with higher performance, AI-powered intelligence, and lower energy consumption,” stated Chung-Yung Chia, CHT’s Network Technology VP.
Tommi Uitto, Nokia’s Mobile Networks president, emphasized the deal’s role in boosting CHT’s operations and sustainability efforts. He noted that energy-efficient solutions help reduce energy consumption and carbon footprints.
However, Nokia is not the only player expanding its footprint in Taiwan with CHT. Earlier this month, Ericsson secured a separate 5G contract to modernize CHT’s network using its RAN portfolio. This approach achieves significant reductions in energy use and carbon emissions courtesy of AI and machine learning technologies.
Earlier this year, Ericsson and CHT signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance 5G-Advanced technology collaboration. They focused on advancements like Extended Reality (XR), time-critical communication, and industrial automation.
