Nokia Secures Major Market Share Gain with TIM 5G Expansion Deal, Boosting Sustainability and AI Capabilities

Nokia Secures Major Market Share Gain with TIM 5G Expansion Deal, Boosting Sustainability and AI Capabilities

(IN BRIEF) Nokia has secured a three-year agreement with Telecom Italia (TIM) to expand and modernize Italy’s 5G network infrastructure using its cutting-edge AirScale RAN portfolio. The deal, which resulted from a competitive tender process, underscores TIM’s commitment to bridging the digital divide by bringing fast, sustainable connectivity to underserved parts of the country, including smaller towns and rural areas. Nokia will supply advanced hardware such as Habrok 32 Massive MIMO radios and ReefShark-powered baseband technologies, contributing to TIM’s efficiency and sustainability goals. Additionally, the rollout will support AI-driven self-organizing network capabilities with Nokia’s MantaRay SON solution. Leaders from both companies expressed confidence that the partnership will drive Italy’s next phase of digital transformation by providing a scalable and intelligent 5G platform for consumers and businesses alike.

(PRESS RELEASE) ESPOO, 17-Nov-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Nokia has won a significant three-year contract with Telecom Italia (TIM) to expand and modernize its 5G network infrastructure across Italy, marking a major step forward in TIM’s mission to close the digital divide and drive nationwide technological transformation. Announced today, the strategic agreement comes after a competitive tender process and represents a major market share gain for Nokia. The partnership will see Nokia expand its presence across new regions of Italy, in addition to strengthening its existing network footprint with TIM.

Central to the deal is Nokia’s industry-leading AirScale Radio Access Network (RAN) portfolio, which is AI-ready and optimized for energy efficiency. Nokia will deliver its latest Habrok 32 Massive MIMO radios alongside the Pandion suite of FDD multi-band remote radio heads, allowing TIM to boost both coverage and capacity across diverse deployment scenarios—from metropolitan centers to rural areas in need of high-speed mobile connectivity.

To support TIM’s commitment to sustainability, Nokia will also implement its energy-efficient ReefShark chip technology into baseband solutions, including the Lodos high-performance 4G/5G capacity card. This card offers improved scalability and reduces energy consumption, ensuring high network efficiency and long-term sustainability benefits. Moreover, Nokia’s AI-powered MantaRay SON (self-organizing network) solution will be deployed more extensively to support TIM’s objectives of automation, optimization, and the delivery of superior network performance.

Pietro Labriola, CEO of TIM, emphasized the importance of the deal in strengthening the country’s digital foundations: “This partnership reinforces TIM’s leadership in next-generation mobile networks and supports our mission to make smart, sustainable connectivity available to everyone. It’s about more than infrastructure — it’s about enabling Italy’s digital future and accelerating industrial innovation.”

Justin Hotard, President and CEO at Nokia, echoed Labriola’s sentiments, stating, “Our expanded collaboration with Telecom Italia demonstrates the strategic role of reliable 5G network capabilities in driving national competitiveness. Nokia’s AirScale technology will enable TIM to extend services efficiently and prepare for emerging AI-based innovations across sectors.”

This ambitious infrastructure project is set to play a key role in improving Italy’s digital inclusion, particularly for underserved regions. It will support both public and private enterprises in achieving robust digital performance, ultimately contributing to the country’s broader goal of sustainable economic and technological advancement.

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SOURCE: Nokia