Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) Partners With Nokia (NYSE:NOK) And Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) To Take Private 5G Network Global

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) has entered partnerships with Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK). The deals seek to improve the company’s ability to target customers by creating a unified business platform to enable automation of factory floors, lower costs, and accelerate data traffic via a private 5G network.

Verizon partnering with Nokia through DAC tools

The company will provide private 5G network solutions to businesses in Asia-pacific and Europe with Nokia through its Digital Automation Cloud tools. The carrier will go to the market with private 5G networks for international clients with Nokia, but other partners will follow but have not indicated whether Ericsson will be part of the partners. With Private networks, enterprises will not jostle with others for speed on a public network. This will enable data-intensive applications that employ computer vision, machine learning, and augmented reality to enhance productivity.

John Crawford, the innovation & 5G general manager, Verizon Business, said that the focus is on the recently launched collaboration with Nokia. Crawford said that the company will continue building its trusted 5G global partners that include Microsoft and AWS.

Verizon and Microsoft are collaborating on private 5G mobile edge compute (MEC) capabilities. Microsoft Azure will integrate with MEC for enterprise, and the cloud computing business will be running on Verizon’s 5G network in processing data from machines and using AI to automate operations. These capabilities will only be available in the US for now.

Private 5G to help global enterprises

Taking private 5G global to assist international business customers in deploying 5G networks expands the carrier’s network-as-a-services strategy. This is an indication of the growing business interest in the deployment of private cellular networks globally.

Crawford stated that the company’s private 5G is offered as a service solution to global enterprises. It comprises of the Nokia NDAC and Verizon’s current portfolio WAN and LAN managed services portfolio. It also includes professional services that define the precise needs for a particular use case.