By Juan Pedro Tomás
Belgian operator Telenet has selected Ericsson, Nokia and Google Cloud as the main partners for the rollout of its 5G network.
The operator said that the process to select its 5G partners started in early 2020.
“5G is so much more than a radio technology system: it is the engine for innovation and opportunities for other ways of working, automation and analysis. But as with any next generation it all starts with developing a high-performance network. Choosing the right suppliers and partners is crucial. I am therefore pleased to be able to partner with Ericsson, Nokia and Google Cloud to roll out a future-proof mobile network in Belgium that will provide all our residential and professional customers with the best possible user experience, be it via 2G, 3G, 4G or 5G,” said chief technology and IT officer at Telenet, Micha Berger.
In a separate release, Ericsson said that the latest contract includes the full modernization of Telenet’s existing RAN (2G/3G/4G) with Ericsson Radio System products and solutions and the deployment of 5G technology nationwide.
The Belgian carrier also said that Nokia is to become an important partner for the rollout of the future 5G network as well. The Finnish company will provide the core network that will fully support the deployment of 5G in Belgium, Telenet said.
As part of the agreement, Telenet and Nokia will be using Google Cloud, more specifically Anthos, in the Telenet data centers. Google Cloud’s Anthos for Telecom allows operators to run the Nokia core equipment and other applications that formerly had to be integrated into the network via physical hardware, via cloud-native services.
“Cloud-native 5G can deliver transformative experiences for consumers and new opportunities for businesses at the network edge,” said managing director of telecom industry solutions at Google Cloud, Amol Phadke. “We are proud to partner with Telenet to support the delivery of cloud-native 5G to businesses and consumers with modern infrastructure, built for a cloud-native 5G core.”
Telenet noted that the current mobile network will be transformed over the next few years, with the introduction of the equipment supplied by the new partners. The carrier said that this will be a gradual process, in line with evolving customer needs and the availability of the 5G frequencies.
Telconet also said that it is currently carrying out some initial 5G trials with local companies and institutions including UZA in Antwerp, KU Leuven, and the local police of Leuven, IMEC and Brussels South Charleroi Airport.
