Nokia, AST SpaceMobile Join Hands For 5-Year 5G Deal

Nokia Corp NOK and AST SpaceMobile, Inc ASTS forged a 5-year 5G deal.
Nokia will offer equipment to connect AST satellites to the global telecommunications network, creating a crucial link in a planned space-based broadband network designed to work with standard mobile phones.
In addition to AirScale base stations, Nokia will provide its NetAct network management systems and technical support.
Also Read: Eutelsat, OneWeb Brace To Unite To Compete SpaceX: Report
The planned launch of AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 test satellite later this year will kick off global testing with mobile network operators on six continents.
Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia. “Nokia has a long history of delivering connectivity solutions that have had a major and positive impact on society. We have worked closely with AST SpaceMobile on this important initiative for two years, which seeks to provide crucial connectivity from space to underserved communities around the world. We are, of course, proud our technology is playing an important role in underpinning the networks.”
AST is among a group of companies contending to offer broadband from near space, a cohort that included Tesla Inc TSLA chief Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Price Action: NOK shares traded higher by 0.10% at $5.18 on the last check Thursday.