Africell will deploy Nokias AirScale Single Radio Access Network (S-RAN) in up to 700 sites to create a network supporting voice and data services on 2G, 3G and 4G.
Nokia has partnered with Angolan mobile operator, Africell, to deploy a brand-new 5G-ready network in the capital city of Luanda, expanding its footprint in the African continent.
By deploying a new network, Africell will be able to take advantage of the latest cloud technologies to achieve cost efficiency gains from shared infrastructure, as well as improved control and flexibility.
For the new network in the capital, Nokia will deploy its AirScale Single Radio Access Network (S-RAN) across up to 700 sites to support concurrently 2G, 3G and 4G services, and be 5G-ready. Nokias AirScale platform can be upgraded to support 5G networks through a software update.
In addition, the company will deploy Nokia AirFrame data centre solution to run any cloud-based application with ease, microwave transmission network Wavence to support advanced packet networking, and NetAct network management system to enable consolidated network view for improved network monitoring and management. Also, Nokias IP routers for access, aggregation, backhaul and core completes the solution, providing scalable backhaul and fast, reliable service deployment.
As part of the network rollout, Nokia will also deploy cloud-native Cloud Packet Core, 3G Core, Voice Core, and Registers for the voice and data core network software, enabling Africell to achieve a high degree of flexibility for responding to changing customer demands by scaling the various network functions according to the traffic experienced.
Speaking about the deal, Younes Chaaban, Chief Technical Officer at Africell, said: Africell is a competitive and highly differentiated player in the African telecoms market. Our vision is to offer superior voice and data services in an expanding footprint across the continent. To achieve this, we need reliable technology partners whose network technologies and support services give us the best platform from which to serve our own customers. Nokia is the right partner for us in Angola and we are excited to work with them to build world-class mobile networks.
Rajiv Aggarwal, Head of CEWA Market Unit at Nokia, added: Africell wants to ensure the best quality of services with high-performance network from day one. And it wants to launch services for both individual subscribers and enterprise customers with an option to deploy 5G services in the future. We are excited to provide our multi-standard Single RAN radio technology, along with cloud-native core and IP technologies to achieve Africells goals.
