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• 2degrees and Nokia sign six-year 5G cloud native deal in NZ
  in Business Telecommunications
  By Josh Martinez

  Kiwi telecoms provider 2degrees has inked a six-year Voice Core deal with Nokia, which will see the operator tap Nokia’s containerised Cloud Native Communication Suite (CNCS) to deploy new 5G services and optimise network resources.

  According to Nokia, CNCS makes it easier for operators like 2degrees to deploy multiple vendors’ applications on the same cloud infrastructure, streamline network activities, enhance automation, and minimise manual intervention.

  "2degrees will utilise CNCS to bring together multiple IMS voice 3GPP functionalities into a single cloud-native network function," says Nokia.

  "It will be deployed on the Nokia Cloud Platform, which integrates a full set of Red Hat cloud products, including Red Hat OpenShift."

  Stephen Kurzeja, CTIO at 2degrees said the CNCS provides the operator with a much-simplified core architecture that enables new monetisation and innovation pathways to enhance the subscriber experience and further optimise how 2degrees manages its network with new automation tools.

  “We are happy to expand our relationship with Nokia as we continue to modernise our network,” said Kurzeja.

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  Nokia says integrating with Red Hat OpenShift gives operators the option to scale their 5G network footprint and quickly introduce new services with enhanced capacity, performance, life cycle management, automation, and energy management.

  CNCS improves energy efficiency by about 10% to 20%, relative to a standard IMS Voice Core, according to Nokia data.

  “We are pleased to extend our collaboration with 2degrees with Nokia’s flexible and reliable cloud-native CNCS architecture,” said Wilson Maria, Head of Cloud and Network Services, Oceania at Nokia.

  "This will enable the roll-out of new innovative services more quickly, securely, and without limitations in multi-cloud environments to meet the evolving and more demanding connectivity needs of 2degrees’ customers."

  As part of the agreement, 2degrees will also integrate Nokia’s MantaRay Network Management solution for a consolidated network view.

  "2degrees already leverages a variety of other Nokia 5G Core networking functions like Shared Data Layer, where data is stored, through NCP, which reflects Nokia’s multi-cloud strategy of providing operators with the infrastructure of their choice," says Nokia.
• XR, Digital Twins, AI focus of Airtel-Volvo research partnership
  in Business Telecommunications
  By Josh Martinez

  Indian telecoms monolith Bharti Airtel has partnered with transport and industrial manufacturer Volvo, and telecoms equipment vendor Ericsson to explore new high-end technologies for the manufacturing sector.

  The new research partnership intends to explore the potential of Extended Reality (XR), Digital Twin technologies and AI in the manufacturing sector by leveraging the power of 5G and 5G Advanced.

  The research, to be conducted at the Volvo factory and R&D centre in Bangalore, will explore industrial Metaverse applications including human and machine interaction and collaboration.

  The research project will take place on Airtel’s 5G advanced network for industrial XR applications.

  The partners intend to leverage the ultra-low latency and high-speed capabilities of 5G to enable differentiated connectivity for real-time simulations, design prototyping, and immersive training across multiple factory and industrial sites.

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  “Our industry is undergoing a once in a lifetime transformation driven by the emerging trends across automation, connectivity and alternative energy carriers – tools which will be key in our ambitions to be Net Zero and shape a sustainable future for all," said Kamal Bali, President & MD, Volvo Group India.

  "This transformation also includes the way we work and collaborate across our industrial and R&D sites.

  "5G, coupled with Extended Reality applications, will help foster innovation as well as collaboration between our sites and engineers, in real-time, through the power of connectivity & digitalisation backed by advanced AI technologies.”

  Sharat Sinha, Director & CEO – Airtel Business said the telco's low latency 5G network will enable real-time XR applications for enhanced productivity and efficiencies, unlocking new revenue streams and accelerating the adoption of Industry 4.0 applications.

  “We are thrilled to leverage the capabilities of our advanced 5G network for innovative industrial applications in partnership with Ericsson and Volvo Group,” Sinha said

  Nitin Bansal, Managing Director, Ericsson India said 5G will be a game-changer towards enabling intelligent, connected, and immersive industrial experiences.

  "By combining our expertise in network technology with cutting-edge XR applications, we are creating an ecosystem that will help industries to transform manufacturing," Bansal said.

  "The research insights will be instrumental in shaping the future of industrial digitalisation, not just in India but globally."
• Canadian government to make mmWave 5G available for new services
  in Telecoms & NBN
  By Josh Martinez

  The government of Canada has announced new measures to make 5G millimetre wave spectrum available for a range of new services.

  Millimetre wave (mmWave) spectrum is high-frequency spectrum, typically ranging between 24-47 Ghz for 5G applications, that can carry large quantities of data over short distances.

  Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada is publishing an addendum to the Non-Competitive Local Licensing Framework that will add millimetre wave spectrum in the 27.5–28.35 GHz band.

  ISED will be consulting from March 06 to June 04, 2025, on millimetre wave spectrum in the 26 GHz and 38 GHz bands for an upcoming spectrum auction.

  While mmWave spectrum can be cranked up to support massive speeds and throughput, the signals have the disadvantage of only being able to travel short distances and being subject to obstruction by solid objects.

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  However, mmWave spectrum can support highly localised mobile services, new applications such as automation in manufacturing and transportation, and fixed wireless services for internet in homes typically located in rural or remote areas.

  The Canadian government says the mmWave spectrum that it is making available will support services such as smart agriculture, industrial automation and private networks.

  “The emergence of new wireless technologies is supporting the creation and expansion of new spectrum applications across different industries, including manufacturing, health care, public safety and more," said François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

  "Making new millimetre wave spectrum available will encourage the development of new and disruptive business models, drive ongoing investment in networks, increase competition and improve affordable connectivity options for Canadians across the country.”

  Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, said making additional spectrum available will improve connectivity for Canadians in rural and remote areas.

  “Whether for accessing health care, enhancing safety in communities or growing a business, reliable connectivity is a necessity, no matter where you live in Canada," Hutchings said.
• Boost Mobile deploys Nokia cloud-native 5G Voice Core on public cloud
  in Telecoms & NBN
  By Josh Martinez

  US mobile operator Boost Mobile has deployed Nokia’s cloud-native 5G voice core on the public cloud in what the telco claims is a world first.

  According to Boost, the deployment will enable faster delivery of advanced services, enhanced network automation, and more efficient cloud utilisation than its Open RAN cloud-native network could before.

  Nokia says the deployment includes the consolidation of several IMS voice 3GPP functionalities into a single cloud-native network function (CNF), called Nokia Cloud Native Communication Suite (CNCS).

  The migration, from Boost Mobile’s previous distributed IMS voice core by Nokia, is claimed to provide automated deployment and configuration, reduced infrastructure footprint, and lower operational costs through streamlined life cycle management.

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  “We anticipate Nokia’s 5G Voice Core to help reduce our network infrastructure costs by about 70% in addition to delivering new 5G services faster, with significantly streamlined network operations,” said Dawood Shahdad, Vice President of Core Engineering at Boost Mobile.

  “Boost Mobile continues to push boundaries with our Open RAN 5G network and the successful nationwide deployment of Nokia’s cloud-native next-generation voice core marks a pivotal moment in our network evolution, as this new network element advances our vision of end-to-end orchestration and dynamic scaling on our path toward 6G.”

  CNCS improves energy efficiency by about 10% to 20%, relative to a standard IMS Voice Core, according to Nokia data.

  “As the sole 5G Voice Core provider for Boost Mobile in the US, Nokia is extremely pleased to support Boost in this modernisation project and the close partnering that enabled it," said Marcelo Madruga, Head of Technology and Platforms, Products & Engineering, Cloud and Network Services at Nokia.

  "This is another demonstration of Nokia’s technology leadership in helping our customers solve problems, address their customer needs, and generate new revenue streams.”
• Sky TV NZ switching from Optus to Korean satellite to stay on air
  in Telecoms & NBN
  By Josh Martinez

  Sky Television New Zealand has decided to use a Korean satellite in place of a failing Optus satellite as a stop gap measure to keep its satellite TV service operational.

  Sky, operating in New Zealand since 1990, has more than 1 million residential TV subscribers, split evenly between its satellite and streaming services, and also offers broadband services.

  The broadcaster currently uses the Optus D2 satellite which last year started to end its operational life and consequently became unstable in its orbit, causing signal interruptions for thousands of viewers.

  Optus D2, a geostationary satellite originally launched in 2007, has already exceeded its specified minimum life span of 15 years.

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  The signal interruptions have sparked public complaints from affected users, who have taken to social media to express their frustration with many demanding refunds from Sky.

  Complicating matters further, the replacement Optus 11 satellite will now not be launched into orbit until at least 2027, forcing Sky to find an interim satellite solution post haste.

  Enter KoreaSat 6, an ageing satellite launched in 2010 that Sky believes has enough life left in it to act as a replacement for D2 until Optus 11 is launched and becomes operational.

  According to Sky, KoreaSat 6 has been moved into an orbit close enough to D2 to take over its broadcasting operations and the broadcaster expects to switch to the interim replacement satellite by early April.

  Meanwhile, Sky says it is working to resolve the issues of about 25,000 customers who have been experiencing signal problems by repositioning their antennae to point at a different angle to the sky.