Singaporean operator M1 and Nokia have signed an agreement to deploy Nokia’s cloud-native core software in order to launch a 5G Standalone network in 2021.
Nokia’s 5G Standalone core, developed with open-source and licensed software components, mainly consists of 5G cloud-native Core and Cloud Packet Core software.
With enhanced machine learning and artificial intelligence, Nokia says its 5G Standalone core with Nokia Network Services Platform (NSP) allows operators to design and automate network slices in order to drive the development of industrial uses cases like unmanned aerial or road vehicles, remote operations, wireless e-health, digital banking and smart manufacturing.
As part of the deal, Nokia said that its professional services teams will also deploy its Network Exposure Function to enable application developers to connect to the 5G Standalone Core and Communication and Security Edge Protection Proxy Function to enhance 5G roaming.
Nokia 5G standalone core software components will be hosted on Keppel Corporation’s data center infrastructure, powered by Nokia’s Airframe servers and spine leaf switches, the vendor said.
“5G Standalone is going to be the real game changer for 5G,” said Manjot Singh Mann, CEO at M1. “With Nokia’s 5G Standalone core integrated into our 5G network, we are well-positioned to harness the endless possibilities that 5G standalone can bring about. Being at the forefront of 5G standalone use cases development, we are excited to leverage 5G standalone’s low-latency, as well as its responsive, secured and high-throughput mobile connectivity to deliver high performance and reliable 5G services for our consumers and enterprises, as well as play a pivotal role in Singapore’s Smart Nation digital transformation journey.”
Raghav Sahgal, President of Cloud and Network Services at Nokia, said: “With Nokia 5G Standalone core, we are pleased to be expanding our long-standing partnership with M1, enabling Singapore’s transformation to 5G by providing a host of new capabilities. It will deliver a greater customer experience, superior serviceability and important operational efficiencies.”
M1 launched its 5G non-standalone (NSA) network in parts of Singapore in September of 2020.
At the time of the launch, M1 claimed to be the first operator in Singapore to offer 5G access to all its customers, without any limitation on the number of sign-ups or restrictions on any plans.
M1’s 5G NSA network was initially operational in CBD, Orchard Road, Suntec City and Marina Bay. The company was expecting its 5G network to cover key town centers across Singapore by the end of 2020.
The telco has previously said that it will continue to support its NSA network, ensuring that early adopters already on the NSA network can enjoy a seamless transition to SA in the future.
In 2020, M1 and rival operator StarHub Mobile had secured licenses to jointly build nationwide SA 5G network in Singapore. The winners were each allocated 100 megahertz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band.
