Nokia’s hopes of 5G delivering a boost to its revenue sheet are off to a good start thanks to a $3.5 billion network agreement with US operator T-Mobile. The Finnish telecoms equipment manufacturer will provide end-to-end technology, software and services to the self-styled ‘un-carrier’ during the early stages of 5G rollout.

5G networks will deliver ultrafast speeds, high capacity, and, eventually, ultra-low latency that will power all manner of new applications, such as Virtual Reality, connected cars and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

T-Mobile says its proposed merger with Sprint will accelerate development of 5G in the US, because the combination of its long-range 600MHz spectrum with 28GHz millimetre-wave (mmWave) bandwidth will allow for the creation of a truly national network.  

It argues its rivals only have mmWave spectrum, which delivers high capacity but has comparatively low range, making it only suitable for urban areas and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband. It is thought that the first 5G networks will go live in the US later this year, with more rollouts in 2019.  

The first commercial 5G services in the UK are expected to launch in 2020.