BT and Nokia said they have agreed to work together on potential customer use cases for 5G technologies, the creation of 5G proof of concept trials and the development of the emerging technology standards and equipment.
Howard Watson, CEO of BT Technology, Service & Operations, said: “Our EE mobile business already boasts the biggest 4G network in the UK, which is set to cover 95% of the country by 2020. We will build on that foundation to develop the next generation of LTE-Advanced Pro and 5G services over the next few years.”
The trials will focus on the technology enablers for 5G including millimetre wave radio and convergence, as well as potential commercial services including ultrafast mobile broadband, mission-critical services and the internet of things (IoT).
As a first step in the collaboration, Nokia is conducting trials of its latest 5G-ready radio equipment at BT’s labs.
Watson said: “It’s still early days for 5G technology, but experience tells us that a collaborative approach is key to success. We’re delighted to be working with Nokia to drive a common approach to 5G, and to develop exciting use cases which bring together our combined experience in fixed and mobile technologies.”
