Nokia to transition 5 million base stations from 4G to 5G via software update

Finnish networks giant Nokia announced today that the company is capable to update over 5 million AirScale 4G LTE base station to 5G via an software update, making the upgrade to 5G more cost effective for partners and safer for technicians that don’t have to climb cell towers.

The upgrade to 5G via software is supported on 1 million base station right now, with the number climbing to 3.1 million by the end of this year, and 5 million by the end of 2021.

Nokia has 359 4G/LTE customers with deployed base stations most of which are or will be eligible for the 5G software update by the end of next year. This solution could save tens of billion euro for Nokia’s network partners, estimates the company, and will surely allow faster 5G deployment for partners that can’t invest in new 5G gear in the first wave.

You can find more details in the released press release here.