Manila, Philippines – August 31, 2023 – Nokia has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Globe Telecom, Inc. to deploy its state-of-the-art Interleaved Passive Active Antenna (IPAA+) solution across the southern islands of the Philippines. This strategic collaboration aims to accelerate the rollout of 5G technology in the region, further enhancing connectivity for consumers and businesses.
Nokia’s IPAA+ is a modular, lightweight, and highly versatile antenna system that supports all 5G frequency bands, including the critical 2.6 GHz spectrum band, within a single compact antenna. Beyond its inherent capabilities, the IPAA+ offers flexibility by accommodating additional bands, ensuring that investments remain safeguarded. This deployment will empower Globe Telecom to expedite and streamline the deployment of 4G and 5G networks while significantly improving network efficiency and performance, ultimately leading to a faster return on investment.
One of the key challenges facing service providers is finding sufficient space on existing towers and rooftops to install 5G antennas. Nokia’s IPAA+ is designed to address this physical constraint by simplifying the deployment of 5G technology. Remarkably, the IPAA+ is comparable in size and weight to a standard multiband antenna, enabling service providers like Globe Telecom to expedite their 5G network rollout through a straightforward antenna swap. This integration of 4G passive and 5G active antennas into a compact solution not only accelerates deployment but also reduces site rental costs and streamlines site acquisition processes.
In a significant achievement, Nokia and Globe’s engineering teams successfully conducted field trials of a Globe Telecom-specific variant of the IPAA+ in Tantangan, South Cotabato, located on the island of Mindanao. This groundbreaking test established Globe Telecom as the world’s first operator to successfully assess the 2.6 GHz IPAA+ variant in real-world conditions.
Joel Agustin, Senior Vice President and Head of Network Planning and Engineering at Globe Telecom, Inc., expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled that Nokia’s state-of-the-art products will be deployed in the Philippines. Our enduring challenges in site acquisition and total cost of ownership efficiency are being addressed by the features and design of the IPAA+. Simplifying the rollout of 4G and 5G services will greatly improve our customer experience, especially in the southern region of the Philippines.”
Jeciel Nuyda, President at Nokia Shanghai Bell Philippines, emphasized the significance of this partnership, saying, “We are delighted to partner with Globe Telecom on this deal that will see our state-of-the-art IPAA+ products being deployed in the Philippines. These products are lighter, more modular, and cover all sub-6GHz 5G frequency bands. We look forward to collaborating closely with Globe on this important deployment.”
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in advancing telecommunications infrastructure in the Philippines, setting the stage for enhanced connectivity, improved network performance, and greater accessibility to 5G technology for consumers and businesses alike.
Nokia is a leading B2B technology innovation company committed to creating technology that enables the world to act together. As a pioneer in networks, Nokia is at the forefront of developing solutions that sense, think, and act across mobile, fixed, and cloud networks. The company’s dedication to long-term research and intellectual property, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, makes it a trusted partner for service providers, enterprises, and partners worldwide. Nokia’s mission is to deliver secure, reliable, and sustainable networks today while working collaboratively to shape the digital services and applications of the future.