Azercell’s 4G footprint expansion made possible with Nokia

Azerbaijan operators are expanding their 4G LTE offering, which will bode well for the underlying dynamics of the market. Furthermore, steady 4G base stations and network expansion will further provide momentum for innovative uptake.

Nokia has announced plans to expand the 4G footprint of Azerbaijan’s Azercell by deploying its AirScale 4G base stations at over 1,400 sites in Azerbaijan; the first large-scale deployment outside of the capital city, Baku.

After Nokia announced an LTE FWA announcement involving Nigeria and an FTTH announcement involving the Philippines, the deal with the Azerbaijan-based mobile operator Azercell, will realize the expansion of 4G, preparing Azerbaijan for next-generation connectivity.

“Nokia’s AirScale Radio Access solutions will provide Azercell with high-speed mobile connectivity to cater for increased demand as well as providing a clear migration path in the future. Nokia is the sole supplier in this deal and will replace the former 4G provider and develop the network further,” according to Nokia’s website.

Azercell is the largest operator in Azerbaijan, with more than 5 million customers. It will use Nokia Software’s NetAct Cloud network management system that meets customer demands for software-only delivery.

NetAct manages both radio and core networks and provides applications for fault management, configuration management, network and administration management, performance management, and security management. The deal includes Nokia’s services for network design, deployment, and optimization. Installation began at the end of 2018 and was completed in July 2020.

“Azercell has expanded 4G network across the country with Nokia to provide its population with equal technological opportunities and the latest innovations through its high-speed Internet,” Marat Hamidov, Director of Network Technology Department at Azercell, said.

“A high-performing 4G network is absolutely fundamental, and with our AirScale solution, we also offer a simple upgrade to the next technological era when Azercell is ready,” said Mikko Lavanti, Market Unit Head, Central East and Central Asia (CECA) at Nokia.

Azercell plans to rollout 4G across the whole country, including semi-urban and rural regions. As well as further plans to deploy low-power and wide-area NB-IoT services.