NTT DoCoMo kickstarted what it claims to be a world-first multivendor open radio access network (O-RAN) deployment.
Nokia's base station equipment was installed at the recent Joso Kinugawa Fireworks Festival in Japan. The equipment supports 4G LTE and 5G connections and makes use of Nokia’s Dual Boost massive multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology to improve connection quality in the event of peak traffic.
The pair, who enjoy a storied relationship, will expand the deployment nationwide with a focus on areas of high consumer demand such as stadiums and event venues.
The Japanese carrier enlisted Nokia’s tech as part of a multivendor stack to “improve the operational efficiency and reduce costs of the communication network, contributing to the construction of a sustainable network.”
Nokia secured a deal with NTT DoCoMo last November to supply its MantaRay self-organizing networks (SON) solution for use in its multivendor network. That system makes use of AI systems to optimize connections, meeting DoCoMo’s goal of achieving level-four (L4) autonomous network operations.
This latest deployment makes use of Nokia's AirScale platform, with efforts to integrate Nokia’s 5G AirScale baseband products into DoCoMo’s nationwide 5G network dating back to around late 2023. DoCoMo described AirScale as being “designed with an eye toward the evolution to 5G-Advanced and AI-native 6G networks.”
“NTT DoCoMo will continue to collaborate with Nokia to promote technological innovation and network operation automation utilizing open RAN, and to advance network capabilities in anticipation of the 6G and AI era,” the carrier added in a statement.