Orange France has renewed its collaboration with Nokia, signing a four-year contract extension to enhance its 5G radio infrastructure using Nokia’s cutting-edge AirScale portfolio.
The upgrade will focus on the operator’s network across southeast and western France. Additionally, Orange France will trial Nokia’s 5G Cloud RAN technology to explore the potential of transitioning to a cloud-based network architecture.
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Next-Generation 5G Deployment
Under the agreement, Nokia will provide a suite of advanced 5G equipment, including its O-RAN-compliant AirScale portfolio. The deployment will feature baseband solutions, Massive MIMO Habrok radios, and the Pandion portfolio of FDD multi-band remote radio heads, ensuring flexibility for various use cases and deployment environments. The AirScale portfolio is powered by Nokia’s proprietary ReefShark System-on-Chip technology, enhancing network performance and efficiency.
Nokia’s MantaRay NM radio network management system will also be integrated, supporting all radio and mobile core technologies to optimize network operations. This will improve service reliability, increase automation, and streamline Orange France’s network management.
Enhanced Connectivity and User Experience
The upgraded 5G infrastructure will enable faster speeds, lower latency, and improved coverage, delivering a superior mobile experience for consumers and businesses. By integrating Nokia’s Cloud RAN technology, Orange France aims to create a more flexible and scalable network, paving the way for future advancements such as network slicing and edge computing. This transition will support emerging applications, including smart cities, industrial IoT (Internet of Things), and immersive digital experiences.
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A Commitment to Innovation and Sustainability
Emmanuel Lugagne Delpon, Chief Technology Officer at Orange France, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, “This new contract extension with Nokia and their industry-leading equipment portfolio will support our pioneering efforts to drive superior customer experience further, reduce our environmental footprint, and make our network as energy efficient as possible.”
The partnership aligns with Orange France’s broader sustainability goals by leveraging energy-efficient technology to reduce power consumption and carbon emissions. Nokia’s ReefShark technology and advanced radio solutions are designed to optimize energy use while maintaining high network performance.
