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EE and Nokia to partner on 4G LTE air-to-ground network for emergency services

Jasper Hart
June 18, 2020

Vendor and MNO claim world first for product

EE and Nokia have penned an agreement to build a nationwide 4G air-to-ground network for the UK’s emergency services.

The MNO and vendor claim the network will be an industry first, providing high-speed coverage for airborne emergency service personnel at altitudes ranging from 500 to 10,000 feet.

EE will provide the active network equipment for a full reference facility, as well as an initial seven site trial network. Nokia will provide design support, network equipment, installation and commissioning services.

Following the trial, EE will deploy the network in more than 80 Home Office-acquired cell sites across the UK. It hopes to benefit more than 300,000 emergency service workers with uninterrupted coverage.

The first trial will take place over the coming months in north Wales and London, giving EE and Nokia the opportunity to test the network in different terrain and conditions for hardware deployment.

“With the help of this first ever air-to-ground network using commercial LTE, emergency services personnel will be able to rely on uninterrupted communications nationwide. This project and its deployment are a perfect example of the type of innovative solutions Nokia, together with our customers, can provide to the public sector”, said Nokia’s UK and Ireland CEO Cormac Whelan.

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