Nokia noted that the first 5G site using its technology is expected to go live in August

Finnish vendor Nokia and Canadian cable TV and mobile telephony operator Eastlink announced a multi-year strategic access network partnership with the aim of modernizing Eastlink’s mobile network.

Under the deal, Nokia will implement its AirScale portfolio, including 5G RAN to upgrade Eastlink’s network with will enhance its mobile experience with faster speeds and greater network capacity. The partnership includes new site expansion and existing site upgrades, Nokia said.

The European vendor also noted that the first site using Nokia technology is expected to go live in August.

Nokia’s AirScale 5G portfolio includes baseband, remote radio heads and massive MIMO antennas.

Eastlink delivers a range of communications services, including high speed internet, mobile, TV, phone, data services, security and smart home solutions to residential, business and public sector customers in seven provinces across Canada and Bermuda. The company Eastlink said it has invested around $500 million since 2013 to grow its mobile services.

Jeff Gillham, CEO at Eastlink, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Nokia as part of our dual supplier radio network strategy. We expect them to cover a sizeable portion of our mobile radio access network over the next few years.”

In December 2022, Nokia had partnered with various government entities in Canada to construct a R&D facility in Ottawa, Ontario, to advance AI, 5G, cybersecurity and environmental initiatives in the country.

The vendor had said it expected to start construction of the facility on an existing 26-acre campus in 2023 with the goal of opening it in 2026.

Nokia Canada produces equipment covering 5G radio and core networks, FTTH, IP-routing, optical networks, cybersecurity, submarine cable and network management software.

The project will increase Nokia’s Ontario-based team by more than 340 to a total of 2,500.

Nokia said that the new R&D hub in Ottawa will help “secure Canada’s position as a global leader in the green digital future by broadening Nokia Canada’s expertise in 5G, cyber security, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, accelerating growth in cloud software, and enhancing digital identity management and security for devices connected to critical networks.”

In Canada, Nokia has signed 5G agreements with Bell, Telus and Shaw Communications.