Nokia (NYSE:NOK) last week announced that it has extended its long-term relationship with UScellular (NYSE:USM) to deploy the energy-efficient Nokia AirScale portfolio in mid-band C-Band and 3.45 GHz mid-band spectrum to boost its 5G network speed, capacity and coverage.
By adding mid-band spectrum to its low and mmWave 5G networks, UScellular said it can offer its customers increased speeds, expanded coverage and reliable services at home and on-the-go. The company said its customers will have access to HD video streaming, gaming, remote education and telehealth while businesses can utilize 5G and IoT connectivity for asset monitoring, security and fleet management.
Under the terms of the deal, UScellular will deploy Nokia’s massive MIMO radios, macro remote radio heads, and next-generation AirScale baseband equipment in the C-Band and 3.45 GHz mid-band spectrum. Nokia’s AirScale radios provide dual support for both C-Band and 3.45 GHz mid-band spectrum, offering a cost-effective deployment solution. The deployment builds on Nokia’s existing support for UScellular’s 5G Standalone core network and RAN for both low-band and mmWave 5G.
Mike Irizarry, Executive Vice President and CTO of UScellular, said: “We count on Nokia to provide the 5G infrastructure that keeps our customers connected to the people and information that matters most to them, no matter where they live. As we continue to enhance our network, Nokia brings the industry-leading technology expertise and portfolio range to help us provide a fast and reliable wireless experience for our customers.”
UScellular said it currently has low-band 5G coverage in portions of all its markets and has launched 5G mmWave Home Internet+ service in parts of 10 cities. It expects to activate this mid-band spectrum for customer use by the end of 2023.
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