The agreement, awarded following a competitive tender, represents a substantial boost to Nokia’s Italian footprint and aligns with TIM’s strategy to advance nationwide digital transformation.
The partnership will see Nokia deploy equipment from its AI-ready 5G AirScale portfolio to improve both coverage and capacity, with a particular focus on smaller towns and rural areas. The companies said the rollout will support TIM’s goals to bridge Italy’s digital divide, digitise enterprises, and advance its long-term sustainability commitments.
Under the deal, Nokia will supply its latest Habrok 32 Massive MIMO radios and Pandion FDD multi-band remote radio heads, enabling broad deployment options and improved spectral efficiency.
TIM will also integrate Nokia’s Lodos baseband solution, designed to deliver higher performance and lower energy consumption, powered by the vendor’s ReefShark System-on-Chip technology.
Pietro Labriola, CEO at TIM said: “This partnership strengthens TIM’s leadership in building the next generation of 5G networks, enabling faster, smarter, and more sustainable connectivity across Italy. By combining innovation and efficiency, we are creating the digital infrastructure that will bridge the divide, accelerate industrial transformation, and support the country’s sustainable growth.”
The agreement also expands TIM’s use of Nokia’s MantaRay SON platform, bringing greater automation and AI-driven optimisation to the operator’s radio network. Nokia will provide deployment, maintenance, and support services, incorporating AI tools to boost performance and operational efficiency.
Justin Hotard, president and CEO at Nokia said: “Our expanded partnership with Telecom Italia shows how a trusted 5G network can unlock Italy’s next phase of digital transformation.
“With our AirScale solution, we’re helping TIM extend coverage and build a foundation for new AI-driven services. Together, we’re connecting intelligence and strengthening Italy’s competitiveness.”
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