Breaking Ground: Nokia’s First Live 5G Standalone Call Goes Live with China Unicom
Picture this: a brand‑new 5G network, humming with data and voice traffic, and the whole thing is live on the ground! That’s exactly what Nokia did, pulling off a first‑of‑its‑kind 5G Standalone (SA) call with China Unicom.
Why This Is a Big Deal
- Skips the old non‑Standalone (NSA) 5G world—no circuitous detours.
- Introduces network slicing, letting operators carve out custom pockets of bandwidth for everything from AI to VR.
- Leaves the reader with a clear impression that Nokia’s experience‑driven, customer‑first approach is the secret sauce.
What Went Into the Rollout
Below is the high‑tech recipe Nokia used to make the magic happen:
- Unified Data Management + Shared Data Layer (5G Unified Data Repository) – the brain behind data routing.
- Cloud Mobile Gateway for the Session Management Function (SMF) and User Plane Function (UPF) – the real network muscle.
- Data Refinery charging and NetAct network management to keep the system tuned.
- All running on Nokia CloudBand, a cloud platform that is open, scalable, and vendor‑agnostic, blending seamlessly with China Unicom’s existing gear.
Words from the Command Center
Markus Bochert, the big boss of Nokia Greater China, said, “We’ve shepherded every piece of this project with expert precision—making the deployment not just fast but rock‑solid.” Meanwhile, Bhaskar Gorti, the Chief Digital Officer, added, “Kudos to everyone who made this milestone happen. It proves that 5G SA can arrive swiftly, no matter what hardware you’ve got.”
Why Readers Should Care
- Fast, modern network management means data isn’t just moving—it’s moving at lightning speed.
- With network slicing, companies can carve out dedicated lanes for critical services, keeping disasters (and buffering) at bay.
- It’s a win‑win for users & operators: better service, less downtime, and the peace of mind that innovation is coming, not just arriving.
In short, Nokia proved that the transition to 5G Standalone isn’t just possible—it’s fast, flexible, and future‑ready. And if that isn’t news that makes you smile, we don’t know what is!
