Ericsson said that Danish operator TDC has selected it to supply its nationwide commercial 5G network and provide managed services through the Ericsson Operations Engine. The deal includes transferring about 100 TDC network operations workers to Ericsson. TDC expects to start trialing 5G mid-year, with roll-out due to begin in October 2019.
TDC said the agreement takes effect from 01 April. The managed services agreement runs for five years. Ericsson said it will enable TDC to capitalise on 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Industry 4.0. The deal also includes upgrading TDC’s existing LTE network.
The new network will be enabled by Ericsson's 5G Platform. Ericsson will modernise TDC's entire Radio Access Network (RAN) network with the latest Ericsson Radio System products, and TDC’s core network will be modernised with Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Cloud Core system.
Deployment of Ericsson 5G New Radio (NR) hardware and software will begin in 2019, in line with 5G licensing obligations. TDC will make 5G available to selected customers in pilot testing from mid-2019, with roll-out expected to begin in October, pending the anticipated approval and availability of licensed 5G spectrum. TDC is targeting the end of 2020 to provide nationwide 5G coverage.
The managed services contract, centered on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation-driven Ericsson Operations Engine, will see Ericsson operate TDC’s network from September 2019. This encompasses network operations, field services, customer service management, network planning and optimisation. About 100 network operations professionals will be transferred to Ericsson.
TDC and Ericsson will also collaborate on joint 5G innovation activities, including at Ericsson's closest physical R&D facility in the Oresund region of Lund, Sweden.
