Nokia and Anterix Pave the Way for 5G Adoption with Completion of Industry’s First 3GPP B106 Data Call

• Firms successfully complete the industry’s first data call with B106 standardization, a key milestone in the development of private wireless for utilities.
• 3GPP B106 data call collaboration widens the chipset and device ecosystem supporting private wireless utility use cases.
• Helps to future-proof utility investments by paving the way for 5G adoption, ensuring their standards-based technology choice for the long term.

DALLAS - Nokia and Anterix announced that they have successfully completed the industry’s first B106 data call at Nokia’s Lab in Dallas, Texas. The companies collaborated following the standardization of B106 in 3GPP Release 18 to widen the options for chipsets and devices to support private wireless use cases for utilities. By continuing to invest in enhancing private wireless solutions for the utility market, Nokia and Anterix are making it easier for energy suppliers across the United States to adopt private LTE/5G networks, according to the official website of Nokia. 

Following the standardization of B106 in 3GPP Rel 18, Nokia integrated this technology into its AirScale Radio portfolio. Enabling B106 paves the way for a broader device ecosystem, including Cat-M devices which can be ideal for utility use cases. Nokia’s AirScale Radio capabilities can be leveraged to enable the coexistence of legacy B8 and B106 devices and ensure seamless migration for existing customers to B106.

Anterix is the largest holder of licensed spectrum in the 900 MHz band (896-901/935-940 MHz) throughout the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. It enables the deployment of utility mission-critical applications on 900 MHz private wireless networks, with the ability to extend over long distances.

Adoption of 5G can help utilities take advantage of future key features to support use cases, such as optimizing grid performance and automating smart grids, with more stringent network performance requirements helping to extract more value from their investment in the network.

Jeff Pittman, Head of North America Enterprise, and Mobile Networks at Nokia, said: “The completion of the successful data call with Anterix’s 900 MHz private wireless spectrum and the Nokia AirScale Radio underlines Nokia’s commitment to enable critical private wireless use cases for utilities. The successful data call helps to ensure that our customers can leverage the broader array of devices and associated device ecosystem in this band. With a flourishing device ecosystem, utility customers can achieve their private wireless vision around grid automation, resiliency, and security.”

Carlos L’Abbate, Chief Technology Officer at Anterix, said: “Together, we’ve achieved this critical milestone to help accelerate private wireless broadband for the utility industry. With a confirmed evolution path to 5G and the support of Nokia and more than 100 Anterix Active Ecosystem technology innovators, we look forward to continued progress for utilities in achieving their grid modernization and decarburization goals.”