Nokia announced that it has been selected by Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison  (IOH) as the main supplier to deploy and expand its 4G and 5G networks in Indonesia under a three-year agreement. Nokia will provide solutions through its latest AirScale portfolio, a comprehensive deal covering an area of 1.4 million square kilometers, including the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Central Java and Surabaya. The project will support Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison’s ambition to become the country’s most popular digital telco by meeting market demands, improving data throughput and customer experience, and preparing networks for early 5G deployments. The rollout is expected to begin this month.

Nokia will provide equipment from its latest ReefShark-based AirScale portfolio, including base stations and 5G Single RAN, for premium indoor and outdoor coverage. Nokia’s integration service will ensure smooth integration by combining IOH-owned spectrum into a single network, ensuring minimal impact on ultimate users.

Leveraging Nokia’s technology, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison  will be able to quickly and easily upgrade to 5G service via a software update or by plugging in a card remotely. Nokia’s energy-efficient AirScale solution will also allow IOH to keep costs to a minimum while improving its quality of service.

Vikram Sinha, President and CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, said: “We are delighted to be working with our long-term partner Nokia on this key project to consolidate and expand our network to optimize the use of our resources while delivering world-class Nokia’s 5G-ready and industry-leading solutions will help us maximize asset utilization, even as we invest in the future and improve network performance.”

Tommi Uitto, President of Nokia Mobile Networks, said: “We look forward to supporting this important initiative of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison  to expand its coverage and prepare for more innovative 5G services in the near future. Nokia’s 5G-enabled AirScale portfolio will Helping Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison launch next-generation services while helping it reduce operating expenses.”