After making a stellar comeback in the global smartphone market with its iconic Nokia 3310, Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6, Finnish tech giant Nokia is planning to partner with India’s top telecom company Bharti Airtel and the state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to bring 5G network in the country.
According to a report by the Economic Times, Nokia has signed memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with BSNL and Airtel for the same.
Head of India market at Nokia, Sanjay Malik told ET that the MoUs have been signed to introduce 5G network in the country and to identify the steps required to build the same. He said that apart from identifying the applications to define the target segment, the partnership would also act as a preparatory phase for getting into 5G. He further added that the trials in India would begin in 2018 and the commercial rollout is expected to take place during 2019-2020.
According to media reports, the Finnish giant is also setting up an experience centre in Bengaluru to understand the requirements of the target users in the country.
“After 4G, the future is 5G and IoT, which is useful in the concept such as smart cities… The MoU will help BSNL to draw a framework for the transition from the current network to futuristic 5G network,” BSNL Chairman Anupam Shrivastava had told PTI.
BSNL is currently working on setting up the foundation of 5G network in the country. The government is also planning to auction bands over 3,000 MHz in the country.
The partnership comes after the Korean electronics giant Samsung announced a partnership with Reliance Jio to bring 5G network in India.
