China Unicom to deploys 5G optical fronthaul gear from Nokia

July 15, 2019
The service provider will use the optical fronthaul equipment, delivered by Nokia Shanghai Bell, to support 4G and 5G networks in Beijing.

Nokia says it will supply optical 5G fronthaul network systems to China Unicom. The service provider will use the optical fronthaul equipment, delivered by Nokia Shanghai Bell (see "Nokia signs frame agreements with China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom"), to support 4G and 5G networks in Beijing. Nokia says use of the systems will accelerate 4G and 5G base station deployments and reduce china Unicom’s operational costs.

The system in question is the Nokia 1830 Versatile WDM Module (VWM). The VWM provides multiservice WDM optical transport, particularly for 4G and 5G fronthaul in cloud RAN architectures. It features low cost of operation, low latency, and low jitter performance to ensure precise synchronization between cell sites, Nokia asserts.

“We share China Unicom’s vision and commitment to creating this world-leading 5G service for its customers,” stated Gao Bo, head of the China Unicom CBT at Nokia Shanghai Bell. “The Nokia Anyhaul solutions are a key element in faster network deployment, simpler management and lower operational costs. The optical fronthaul solution will be key to providing top notch performance for China Unicom’s 4G/5G subscribers.”

Nokia introduced its Anyhaul line in February 2017 (see "Nokia unveils 'Mobile Anyhaul' concept and upgraded optical transport capabilities"). The Anyhaul line includes extensions to the 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) family, high-speed PON technology, and wireless and router elements.

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About the Author

Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave

Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.

Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.

He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.

You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.

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