Nokia enhances Optus’s 5G network in regional Australia

Nokia will enhance Optus’s 5G network by deploying new technologies to improve coverage and capacity in regional Australia. The deployment will include Habrok Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) radios and Levante baseband solutions, which aim to elevate service quality for regional communities and businesses.

This upgrade will follow Optus’s recent RAN-sharing agreement with Temporal Planning Graph (TPG) Telecom, reinforcing Optus's objective to provide improved data speeds and broader coverage. The Habrok 32 radios, powered by Nokia’s ReefShark System-on-Chip technology, are designed to increase output power by 33 percent while reducing energy consumption. This will allow Optus to better utilize shared spectrum assets in areas benefiting from the RAN-sharing agreement.

In addition, the deployment includes energy-saving features such as the ‘Extreme Deep Sleep’ mode, which conserves energy without compromising network performance. Levante baseband capacity cards will also be included to enhance scalability and further decrease energy usage.

Kent Wu, Vice President of Access Network Strategy at Optus, noted that this deployment aims to meet the increasing demand for connectivity in regional areas, allowing customers to access streaming, downloads, and social media more effectively. Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, remarked on the strengthened partnership and the benefits that the new technology brings, including faster network modernization and sustainability through energy-efficient solutions.

The Habrok 32 radios and Levante baseband cards are part of Nokia's AirScale portfolio, providing a comprehensive foundation for future network development.