The Espoo, Finland deployment allows Elisa to integrate Nokia’s commercial Cloud RAN solution into its existing network infrastructure, enabling hybrid environments that combine purpose-built and cloud-native networks.
This evolution supports the increasing demand for Radio Access Network (RAN) cloudification and enhances scalability, performance, and operational flexibility.
The deployment has achieved full end-to-end 5G voice and data calls using Nokia’s cutting-edge Cloud RAN architecture, which includes AirScale Massive MIMO radios, baseband software, and the AI-powered MantaRay network management system.
Elisa used Dell XR8620 servers and Red Hat OpenShift, the industry’s leading Kubernetes-powered hybrid cloud platform, to support cloud-native RAN.
Elisa CTO Kalle Lehtinen said that the successful Cloud RAN deployment with Nokia was an important cloudification step, which started with cloudifying the network core and edge, and now includes the radio access network.
“We continue to pioneer new technologies in our journey towards autonomous operations, which is helping us to continue innovating and delivering the best customer experience.”
This enhances Elisa’s capacity to adapt to shifting customer demands, particularly as network usage trends evolve closer to the edge. With AI-powered applications expected to drive demand for edge computing, Cloud RAN provides Elisa with a robust platform for future innovation.
The collaboration has enabled Elisa to validate critical areas such as capacity, performance, lifecycle management, automation, and energy efficiency, ensuring readiness for large-scale deployment.
Elisa claims the project positions it as a frontrunner towards the 6G era, which is anticipated to be inherently cloud-native. Cloudification is a cornerstone of Elisa’s transition to self-driving, self-healing autonomous networks, which promise greater efficiency and resilience.
Nokia Cloud RAN Head Aji Ed said the project’s success proves his outfit’s Cloud RAN solution is ready for commercial deployment.
“Under our anyRAN approach, we work closely with strategic partners like Red Hat and bring together best-in-class partner solutions to offer flexibility and scalability to operators and enterprises. For our customers, cloudification will enable new revenue models and monetisation options.”
Red Hat’s Honoré LaBourdette said: “Cloud RAN’s significance lies in providing an efficient and flexible way to deploy applications and derive value at the edge and boosting collaboration and innovation across the ecosystem. With Red Hat OpenShift, we’re making this vision a reality by offering a consistent hybrid cloud foundation that empowers businesses to build and scale the applications of the future.”
