Nokia has launched 5G services at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia, the vendor said in a release.
The 5G deployment was carried out in partnership with Australian operator Optus.
The new deployment provides visitors attending sporting or music events with access to fast indoor and outdoor 5G coverage with speeds over 1 Gbps.
Optus is utilizing Nokia’s 5G AirScale indoor Radio solution (ASiR) to provide comprehensive coverage for indoor zones such as corporate boxes or VIP areas. The solution supports major network technologies and is designed to be easy to upgrade from 4G to 5G new radio (NR). The solution also includes indoor small cells, the Finnish vendor said.
Nokia has provided equipment from its AirScale Radio Access portfolio for outdoor 5G coverage, including 5G RAN, AirScale base stations and its AirScale Micro Remote Radio Head solution. It has also supplied its 5G small cells solution for enhanced coverage and capacity in public spaces.
Nokia noted that low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity can give spectators access to different camera angles in real-time, ultra high definition video from their smartphones, as well as information overlays to enhance the performance. Venue operators also benefit with enhanced retail opportunities; enhanced video capture and processing capabilities for critical functions such as security as well as support for building automation and inventory management, the company said. Optus has deployed Nokia’s 5G indoor and outdoor radio system and reported peak speeds of 1.1 Gbps downlink and 100 Mbps uplink for 5G coverage throughout the stadium.
“5G will be transformative in the home, at work and when we are at play, like cheering on your team or singing along to your favorite artist,” said Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, CEO of Optus Network Australia. “We know people have been eager to get back into Optus Stadium with a full crowd and with Optus 5G now enabled throughout the stadium, fans will be able to connect at the speed of their excitement.”
“We are delighted to partner with Optus to deliver these extraordinary 5G experiences at Optus Stadium. Nokia is proud to support Optus’ pioneering vision for compelling indoor and outdoor 5G coverage both here and across the Optus network,” said Tommi Uitto, president of mobile networks at Nokia.
Optus, controlled by Singapore telecommunications group Singtel, previously said that its 5G network currently operates more than 900 5G sites and is available to over 426,000 households across Australia.
Some of the cities where the telco currently provides 5G coverage include Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaida, Gold Coast and Perth.
In July of 2020, Optus announced it was testing 5G mmWave technology in partnership with Ericsson.
