Nokia has finalised an agreement with Deutsche Telekom to deploy Open Radio Access Network (OpenRAN) technology across more than 3,000 sites in Germany, marking a pivotal moment in the modernisation of the country’s telecom infrastructure.
This initiative will see Nokia replacing hardware previously supplied by China’s Huawei.
The Finnish telecom equipment provider made the announcement on Wednesday.
This deal re-establishes Nokia as a key supplier to Deutsche Telekom after the German telecom giant opted for Ericsson equipment in parts of its network back in 2017.
The rollout, which includes collaboration with Fujitsu, is already underway in Neubrandenburg, Northern Germany.
ORAN technology is gaining traction for its ability to significantly reduce costs. By leveraging cloud-based software and integrating hardware from multiple suppliers, OpenRAN offers telecom operators flexibility and efficiency.
This agreement highlights Deutsche Telekom’s commitment to modernising its network with cutting-edge solutions.
The project follows a successful trial conducted last year, positioning Nokia as a major player in the OpenRAN ecosystem.
The Finnish company has been working to expand its ORAN offerings, joining a competitive race with Ericsson, which recently secured deals with AT&T in the U.S. and Spain’s leading telecom operator, MasOrange.
For Deutsche Telekom, the partnership with Nokia underscores a strategic move towards adopting advanced, scalable technologies while reducing dependency on traditional single-vendor models.
The agreement further strengthens Nokia’s presence in Europe’s competitive telecom market.
