Nokia 5G solution for next-gen digital railway operations supporting FRMCS

Nokia today announced its new 5G radio solution, designed to deliver high-capacity, high-performance and resilient real-time communications to rail operators worldwide, setting the foundation for the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS). As a cornerstone for smarter, safer and more efficient rail networks, the solution supports greater digitalization and automation, driving benefits for passengers, businesses and the environment. The launch features the industry’s first commercial 5G radio for the 1900 MHz (n101) band, along with Nokia’s Core Enterprise Solution for Railways, purpose-built to accelerate the sector’s digital transformation.

In the coming decade, FRMCS will upgrade the current 2G Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway (GSM-R) and become the next-generation global standard designed for all railways. Its 5G-based successor, with built-in security and high reliability, enables enhanced automation, new digital applications, improved passenger services, and secure cross-border communication.

Nokia is a global leader in railway communications with decades of experience in GSM-R deployments across more than 20 countries. The company has been at the forefront of FRMCS development, collaborating with rail operators, governments, industry, and standardization bodies to help shape the standard and enable its global deployment.

“The drive toward digitalization demands the kind of high-speed connectivity and data capabilities that legacy systems simply can’t provide, creating an urgent need for rail operators worldwide to modernize,” said Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia. “Our commercial 5G solution, backed by decades of proven rail industry expertise, reflects our commitment to laying the foundation for the next generation of railway operations. We offer a future-proof, flexible technology platform that supports a smooth transition to FRMCS while improving operational efficiency, safety and the overall passenger experience.”

Nokia’s new 5G radio is built for mission-critical communications and supports strategic coexistence, enabling railways to migrate to 5G alongside legacy systems like GSM-R with no disruption. In addition, its fully optimized, cloud-native 5G SA core supports the full suite of FRMCS functionalities for the transport stratum. Modular, flexible and scalable, the solution enables both regional and nationwide deployments. It will also be tested under the EU-funded FP2-MORANE-2 project, which builds on earlier FRMCS initiatives to advance the digitalization of rail operations across Europe.

The shift to a 5G solution introduces powerful capabilities that align perfectly with the operational needs of modern railways, particularly in border crossing scenarios. Here are some of the main benefits for rail operators and passengers:

  • Automated train operations: Enabling real-time control and monitoring of trains to improve safety and efficiency and decreasing energy consumption and emissions.
  • Passenger information systems: Providing real-time updates and information to passengers for a better travel experience.
  • Mission-critical voice communication: Integrating voice, video and data services in a single, standardized platform to enhance operations and infrastructure management.
  • Smart rail maintenance: Utilizing predictive maintenance and real-time monitoring to reduce downtime and maintenance costs.

Nokia is committed to driving the digital transformation of the railway sector through advanced, future-ready technologies. The new solution includes a commercial 5G radio for the 1900 MHz band from its industry-leading AirScale portfolio, paired with its railway-optimized Core Enterprise Solution. It is complemented by the company’s extensive portfolio of mission-critical IP, optical and data center networking products. Nokia’s solutions are also compliant with the highest standards and feature a best-in-class cybersecurity framework.

Multimedia, technical information and related news

Web Page: FRMCS

Web Page: FRMCS 5G RAN

Product Page: AirScale Radio Access

Product Page: Core Enterprise Solution for Railways

Product Page: Rail OT cloud

Product Page: Mission-critical railway backbone network

Nokia brings Wi-Fi 7 with launch of Beacon 4 and 9 home devices

Today, Nokia launched two new Wi-Fi 7 gateways designed to deliver, reliable, ultra-fast broadband to every corner of the home. Nokia’s entry level Beacon 4 and mid-tier Beacon 9 offer gigabit speeds over Wi-Fi – essential for supporting the expanding demands of streaming, online gaming, video, smart home, and security applications in the home.

As XGS-PON and 25G PON services grow, Wi-Fi upgrades are essential to delivering multi-gigabit speeds into homes.   Nokia’s new Beacon 4 and 9 are designed specifically for this purpose, allowing service providers to offer an affordable, best-in-class Wi-Fi 7 experience for the masses. Incorporating Wi-Fi 7’s full capabilities, the dual-band Beacon 4 gateway delivers 3.6Gbs speeds over Wi-Fi while the tri-band Beacon 9 gateway delivers blazingly fast 9.4Gbs speeds that help eliminate slowdowns and buffering issues. Both Beacons are powered by its Corteca software which allows operators to create and monetize better broadband experiences.

“As the connected home ecosystem grows increasingly complex, Wi-Fi 7 emerges not just as a technological upgrade, but as a strategic necessity. To unlock the full market potential of Wi-Fi 7, it is essential to accelerate its availability across a wider range of devices. Expanding access – while preserving opportunities for service providers to differentiate and monetize premium offerings – will be key to driving adoption at scale and delivering the elevated experience consumers expect.” said Alzbeta Fellenbaum, Practice Leader, Service Provider – Consumer at Omdia.

“Wi-Fi 7 is a pivotal new technology that will power the connected home of the future. Operators can now make Wi-Fi 7 a reality for customers, with two new affordable solutions that ensure multi-gigabit speeds are delivered to every corner of the home for the ultimate experience,” said Dirk Verhaegen, Head of Broadband Devices, Fixed Networks at Nokia.

The new gateways expand Nokia’s portfolio of Wi-Fi 7 devices which now include the Beacon 4, Beacon 9, Beacon 19 and Beacon 24 models, each designed to meet the varying demands of operators and end-users globally.

Multimedia, technical information and related news 

Web Page: Nokia Wi-Fi

Web Page: Nokia Beacon 9

Web Page: Nokia Beacon 4

Nokia supplies private wireless to Maersk’s fleet for real-time cargo tracking

Nokia today announced that it has signed a contract with Danish global integrated logistics leader, Maersk, to equip 450 vessels in its fleet with Nokia’s industry-leading private wireless network solutions. This important deployment is part of Maersk’s IoT connectivity platform, OneWireless, which offers numerous benefits to its customers, including real-time cargo tracking, enhanced supply chain visibility, and improved operational efficiency.

The evolving environment of logistics and maritime operations is uniquely complex and highly mobile, requiring resilient and flexible technology for real-time asset tracking and positioning. By transitioning to Nokia’s private wireless technology, Maersk will overcome the challenges of its current infrastructure onboard both its own and chartered vessels and gain access to increased scalability and future-proof connectivity.

The new unified mobile network powered by Nokia’s radio portfolio is designed to support numerous IoT devices and secure interoperability between private and public networks, ensuring Maersk customers’ cargo is reliably monitored at sea, port, or land. This is especially important for tracking parameters such as temperature and humidity for fruit and other perishables.

“With our next-generation connectivity platform, we will be able to offer our customers notable benefits, including real-time cargo tracking, enhanced supply chain visibility, and improved operational efficiency. This platform is designed to support thousands of IoT devices, ensuring optimal performance for reefer tracking and fleet IoT,” says Kjeld Dittmann, Head of Vessel & Cargo Connectivity at Maersk.

“Nokia’s technology leadership in private wireless goes far beyond just connectivity, as demonstrated by this major new contract with Maersk. Our Radio Access portfolio and MantaRay network management solution will deliver reliable, real-time, and future-ready mobile networks that will optimize Maersk’s marine operations. We look forward to working collaboratively with them on this important project,” said Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia.

The solution leverages Nokia’s small cells portfolio, including Nokia Shikra Remote Radio Heads (RRH) and compact baseband, along with custom-designed antennas. Each vessel has a small core connected to the radio, utilizing satellite communication for backhaul. Additionally, Nokia’s intelligent network management system, MantaRay NM, located in Maersk’s operations center, provides a consolidated network view for optimal monitoring and management.

The deployment is underway and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.

Multimedia, technical information, and related news

Product Page: Shikra remote radio heads

Product Page: MantaRay NM

Web Page: Private networks

Nokia demonstrates Beacon 24 Wi-Fi 7 solution at Apex Legends Global Series esports gaming event

Nokia today announced it will showcase its Beacon 24 device at the ALGS esports gaming event, allowing fans and gamers to see firsthand the power of its Wi-Fi 7 solution for eGaming applications

Located in the heart of the convention center’s challenging Wi-Fi environment, Nokia’s demonstration, in partnership with Qualcomm, SONY, CORSAIR and EA, offers visitors an exclusive chance to battle a mystery pro head-to-head in the Apex Legends game, powered solely by Nokia’s Wi-Fi device. Visitors will also be able to take on some of their favorite gaming content creators as part of a “take-over” event taking place at the Nokia booth.

The Nokia WiFi Beacon 24 embeds unique latency and queuing technology to give service providers a powerful Wi-Fi gateway solution that can rival any commercial and retail device on the market. Equipped with an advanced gaming optimization application available on Nokia’s Corteca platform, the Wi-Fi 7 device delivers the ultimate end-user experience, delivering gaming-level latency that optimizes performance.

“As a gamer, I thought Wi-Fi gaming was a fantasy—speed is everything, and lag can kill your game. But Nokia is changing that with devices that can deliver a wireless gaming experience as good as wired, if not better. I was blown away by how easy the gateway was to set up and by its overall performance. I’m all in for Wi-Fi gaming with Nokia,” said Josh Zlatinszky aka NMoose, a professional gamer and content creator.

“Last year, our Beacon devices powered the first Wi-Fi Apex Legends tournament, proving wireless eGaming is possible. Today, we’re upping the ante, showcasing their strength in one of the world’s most difficult environments for Wi-Fi, a busy convention center hosting an esports event. This can be a game changer for operators that want to offer more advanced Wi-Fi, latency, and performance management features to deliver the ultimate gaming experience,” said Gino Dion, Head of Innovation Solutions, Bell Labs Fellow at Nokia.

ALGS attendees that want to try their hand at beating the best in Apex Legends or want to see the latest WiFi Nokia devices powerful enough to support virtually any eGaming environment, can visit its booth in Hall J at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

Nokia signs video technologies license agreement with Samsung

Nokia today announced that it has signed a multi-year patent license agreement with Samsung covering the use of Nokia’s video technologies in Samsung’s televisions. Under the agreement, Samsung will make royalty payments to Nokia. The new agreement is separate from Nokia and Samsung’s existing 5G patent license agreement. The terms of the agreement remain confidential between the parties.

Arvin Patel, Chief Licensing Officer, New Segments at Nokia, said: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Samsung covering the use of our video technologies in their world-class TVs. The agreement is yet another proof point of Nokia’s leadership in video and multimedia technologies, and further validation of our decades-long investments in multimedia R&D and standardization.”

Nokia is a leader in the development of video and multimedia technologies, including video compression, content delivery, content recommendation and aspects related to hardware. In the past 25 years, Nokia has created almost 5,000 inventions that enable multimedia products and services and continues to play a leading role in multimedia research and standardization. Nokia’s expertise in multimedia and video research is built on continuous investment to advance the industry. Nokia has invested around €150 billion in R&D since 2000 (including over €4 billion in 2023 alone) for cutting edge technologies including cellular and multimedia.

Resources and additional information

Webpage: Patents powering consumer electronics I Nokia

Nokia and Motorola Solutions announce drone technology integration for public safety and mission-critical industries

Nokia and Motorola Solutions announced a drone technology integration to launch an AI-enhanced turnkey, automated drone-in-a-box solution that sets a new standard for first responders and mission-critical industries, offering enhanced situational awareness, streamlined remote operations, and faster decision-making.

The solution integrates Nokia Drone Networks with Motorola Solutions’ CAPE drone software to help transform public safety and industrial operations, enhancing operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability.

Dispatching drones ahead of first responders enables early assessment of a situation’s severity, helping to support efficient resource allocation. The new solution enables public safety and mission-critical industries to remotely dispatch drones from one or multiple operation centers at a moment’s notice to assess emergencies and hazards while also receiving AI-powered intelligence that can inform and accelerate decisions to help keep workers, property, and premises safer.

CAPE software’s flight-safe features adjust the drone’s path to avoid obstacles, stay within a geofenced area, and adapt to changing terrain altitude, with assistive AI helping operators analyze real-time data. Nokia’s drone-in-a-box technology connects via 4G/LTE or 5G networks for broader reach and seamless remote operation beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).

Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs have demonstrated an increase in first responder safety by providing tactical intelligence, enabling better coordination, oversight and transparency in operations. For critical infrastructure industries like oil and gas, ports, utilities, mining, energy and manufacturing, the technology’s BVLOS and remote operation capabilities help to enhance industrial worker safety and lower the costs of operating hard-to-reach sites like offshore wind farms. Multiple drone-in-a-box systems can serve as a sustainable alternative to helicopters, significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Roxana Kennedy, Chief of Police at Chula Vista Police Department in California, stated: “In 2018, we created and developed the world’s first public safety Drone as First Responder program in partnership with Motorola Solutions, utilizing their CAPE drone software. Since then, we’ve successfully flown over 21,000 missions. Our DFR program has been instrumental in critical life-and-death situations by providing aerial awareness or helping officers de-escalate incidents by delivering real-time, vital information.”

Jehan Wickramasuriya, corporate vice president of AI and Intelligence Platforms at Motorola Solutions said: “We’re innovating where our customers need us most to bring them better intelligence for faster decisions. This drone-in-a-box solution furthers our commitment to drone innovation that seamlessly fits within our customers’ current workflows to give those charged with our safety actionable live-stream insights while simplifying evidence collection.”

Stephan Litjens, Vice President of CNS Enterprise Campus Edge Solutions at Nokia, said: “We are proud to collaborate with an innovator like Motorola Solutions in this significant step toward a more mature and sustainable drone industry for the benefit of our customers, workers, and community. Together, we are setting technology best practices in drone connectivity and AI. With an open API architecture that facilitates easy integration with third-party applications, and other solutions like Nokia’s MX Grid, Nokia Drones-in-a-Box and Motorola Solutions’ CAPE software, we are transforming drones into daily helpers for public safety and mission-critical operations.”

Nokia Drone Networks are compliant with international industry standards and offer long-lasting technology with upgradable components that reduce electronic waste.

Nokia launches world’s first 5G 360° camera for industrial use

Nokia announced today that it is launching the world’s first 5G-enabled 360° camera for industrial usage. The camera is designed for harsh industrial conditions and comes with cyber-secure software and built-in security hardware. The camera is the result of long-term extensive Nokia multimedia research and contains many of Nokia’s ground-breaking innovations.

Waterproof (IP67) and shock-resistant, the camera provides 8K streaming with low-latency high-resolution 360° video coupled with spatial audio over 5G, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet, enabling versatile usage scenarios and minimizing the need for extensive use of traditional cameras at industrial sites and entertainment events. The Nokia 360 Camera (WiFi variant) provides a cost efficient solution with full benefits of 8K 360° multimedia streaming, and the Nokia 5G 360 Camera – Extreme Temperature variant enables product deployment in extreme temperatures.

The ability to transmit video and audio over private and public wireless networks enables real-time remote-control usage, enabling customers to reduce the risk of accidents and increasing reliability and operational efficiency. Coupled with the leading Nokia Real-time eXtended Reality Multimedia (RXRM) software solution, the camera completes a full end-to-end solution for customers seeking real-time remote use cases such as situational awareness, remote monitoring, remote inspection or teleoperation of industrial equipment.

Nokia RXRM provides extensive APIs for customer AI platforms to benefit from 360° video and 3D OZO Audio. Customers can implement analytics, overlays, extended reality and novel innovations on top of immersive live video. RXRM’s ground-breaking 360° video and spatial audio increases the accuracy of what users see through near-instant, ultra-HD content streaming. It provides truly immersive experiences that will redefine the ways in which people work together in industrial context.

RXRM customers in different fields are already using the technology for a variety of use cases, delivering on the vast potential for this immersive technology to make industrial processes safer, faster and more cost efficient.

Finnish company Callio Pyhäjärvi is an early RXRM customer, and they have repurposed Europe’s deepest mine (Pyhäsalmi mine: 1,445 meters) into a multidisciplinary operating environment for R&D, remote operations, training and for spearheading the latest technologies for the mining industry globally.

Sami Ranta, General Manager, RXRM, Nokia, said: “Nokia RXRM allows industrial customers to enhance their business processes, saving costs from product support to field operations. Adding a 5G-enabled industrial camera product to RXRM now offers a complete solution for real-time remote use cases such as situational awareness, remote monitoring, teleoperation and stadium scale sports and entertainment events.”

Sakari Nokela, Chief Development Officer, Callio Pyhäjärvi, said: “The Nokia 5G 360 Camera is a true innovation for demanding industrial use cases. Previously, existing cameras have been unable to meet the challenges posed by the harsh conditions of mining operations in Callio Business Park. With the trusted Nokia product reliability and security, this camera effectively addresses a critical gap in the market.”

Nokia and eir to extend IP collaboration to support growing customer base for new services across Ireland

eir, Ireland’s leading telecommunications company, and Nokia today announced the extension of its IP collaboration to support the evolving needs and expectations of its customers with access to world-class technology and connectivity solutions.

The agreement will see eir introduce the latest 400/800GE IP backbone for larger capacity to meet future traffic growth and Nokia’s 7750 Service Router, powered by Nokia’s in-house routing silicon, FP5, for greater flexibility, power efficiency and security. This move will support eir’s commitment to provide the most reliable and unparalleled connectivity and service to every corner of Ireland.

Fergal McCann, Chief Technology Officer at eir, said: “This announcement further supports our strategy to ‘Connect for a Better Ireland’, enabling access to the latest technology and fastest speeds and to grow our network capacity to meet continued customer and traffic growth. eir is delighted to continue to grow its collaboration with Nokia for IP Network Infrastructure delivering future-proof and highly reliable network technology for our customers.”

Phil Siveter

Phil Siveter, CEO, UK and Ireland at Nokia, said: “eir has been a strategic customer for Nokia’s Network Infrastructure business for many years with our IP collaboration starting more than 15 years ago. We are delighted to extend our reach to include our latest IP routing technology and solutions to further support eir’s commitment to the quality of its services across Ireland now and in the future.”

Resources and additional information
Webpage: 7750 Service Router
Webpage: FP5 Network Processor Technology

Tech Review – Nokia 3210 (2024)

Being an avid high end smartphone user it is challenging at times when testing phones like this but the Nokia 3210 has more uses than one would think and now people are and can use technology to detox and that is what I have been doing and the Nokia 3210 is a start to help you detox which I think many of us need to do.

Now I went through in detail all the features on the device which you can see here and has been popular so if you need a rundown check out the video below while we talk about this phone can help you detox amongst other things.

First up is the design of the 3210 which many said on my social media it looks more like the 3310 but that is subjective and for me makes no odds the device is super light and think with tactile clicky keys that work well and will fit in any pocket.. It does feel cheap but it is robust and after having it a few weeks now it has not got marked or scuffed either which is a good sign although I am careful with my phones.

There is lots to do on the phone itself and you can use your own earbuds/headphones to listen to the tunes which you can load via your microsd card and the music sounds alright it would be my most use of the phone apart from calls and text which takes getting use to but you pick it up rather fast. Oh it has a radio so if you have no music or forgot to load some again sounds great.

Nokia 3210 (2024) with headphones plugged in for radio – techbuzzireland

There is a decent battery life on this too which is not something you see everyday today and it is removable again another thing you do not see and refreshing. There is plenty of games to test out too and some with limited goes and then you have to purchase you can certainly forget about battery anxiety with the Nokia 3210 that is for sure..

There is a camera and video recorder on board which will not win any prizes but look it takes alright photos I guess if you felt the  need to do so on your time away I guess and to be expected really it is not a phone for social media despite internet access which is not the best either and how it should be and keeping you away from pings all day long and just relaxing listening to the radio or your own music. I would advise daytime shots or bright areas though to get a decent image that people can see.

Overall this is not a phone out to set records by any stretch but more to detach your from the internet and social media it has plenty of battery and features on board to take away for a weekend like I did and feck eveyone else after that you can make phone calls and send text and being frankly honest I think we all need to step away from the internet and social media every now and then and this device can help like previous reboots from Nokia and HMD.

See more on the Nokia 3210 here and some videos