Coming hot on the heels of Ericsson’s announcement last week that it had secured 11.5% of an estimated $5.2bn contract with China Mobile, the company has announced another contract win, this time providing technology to implement 5G NR Non-standalone (also known as NSA) for Nex-Tech Wireless in Kansas.
Non-standalone 5G NR is an early version of Standalone 5G NR, and is primarily used for enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB). Enhanced mobile broadband is an extension of services using 4G LTE networks, that enables carriers to deliver a high data rate across a wide coverage area. The technology relies on existing 4G LTE infrastructure, and is seen as a stepping stone towards Standalone 5G NR, whilst enabling networks to support 5G use cases.
Covering Kansas with 5G
“Nex-Tech Wireless is excited to work with Ericsson to deliver that experience and to bring 5G capabilities to our customers in Kansas.”
Jon Lightle, Nex-Tech Wireless.
"Through our partnership, Nex-Tech Wireless is able to deliver 5G capabilities including Core and RAN to its subscribers as they transition from 4G to 5G,” said Rob Johnson, Head of Customer Unit Regional Carriers for Ericsson North America. “We are excited to work with Nex-Tech Wireless to bring them the best network possible as they make this transition."
Ericsson has a long-standing relationship with Nex-Tech Wireless, and previously collaborated with the company on over 350 LTE sites across the Midwest, where Nex-Tech Wireless rolled out 600Mhz 5G capable sites. And this is no small undertaking, when you consider that Kansas has a similar land mass to the United Kingdom, covering an area of 82,278 square miles, making it the 15th-largest state by area in the United States.
“As we make the move to 5G, it is critical that we have a seamless experience,” said Jon Lightle, President and CEO of Nex-Tech Wireless, said. “Nex-Tech Wireless is excited to work with Ericsson to deliver that experience and to bring 5G capabilities to our customers in Kansas.”
Nex-Tech Wireless and Ericsson also signed a deal in September 2019 to roll out 600 MHz 5G capabilities in key markets. The previous deal allowed Nex-Tech Wireless to provide Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Wi-Fi calling services utilizing Ericsson's cloud-based IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) solution.
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