Cisco and NEC Corporation have announced an expanded collaboration to deliver system integration solutions and explore opportunities in 5G xHaul and private 5G. The extended partnership aims to help customers modernize their network architectures and connect more people and devices with scalable, reliable solutions.
Under an expanded Global Systems Integrator Agreement (GSIA), the two companies will offer augmented solutions for scalable 5G xHaul transport networks. These enhancements include advanced end-to-end automation and routed optical networking capabilities designed to help operators monetize 5G services and improve operational efficiency.
Since signing the GSIA two years ago, Cisco and NEC have combined their strengths to extend the geographic reach and performance of their solutions, delivering stronger and faster connectivity to global operators such as Telefónica Vivo. Faced with increasing traffic volumes, accelerated time-to-market demands, and the need to innovate from transport to the edge, both companies have agreed to further expand collaboration around automation and routed optical networking to meet operator needs.
As part of the enhanced collaboration, NEC will leverage its broad ecosystem and deep experience as a global network integrator to help customers manage the complexity of multi-vendor environments. NEC’s 5G Transport Centers of Excellence in EMEA and LATAM, staffed with local and regional engineering teams and supported by global expertise, will guide customers through phased end-to-end network lifecycle management and optimization.
Cisco will contribute its industry-leading technologies, research and development, and operational expertise to meet growing customer demands and accelerate innovation across transport, routing, and optical domains.
Hideyuki Ogata, General Manager of the Service Provider Solutions Department at NEC, said: “The requirements for modern 5G architecture have strengthened our partnership with Cisco, advancing our collaboration to a new level. The industry-leading solutions from Cisco, together with our ecosystem partners and our world-class network integration capabilities, enable us to deliver compelling solutions to operators and vertical markets worldwide.”
Sanjay Kaul, President of the Service Provider Business for Asia Pacific & Japan at Cisco, added: “Partnering with world-class technology leaders is essential to realize the future of connectivity. Our collaboration with NEC is unique. Together we have built some of the largest IP networks globally using breakthrough architectures that reshape economics through routed optical networking, virtual routing, and 5G radio interoperability.”
Private 5G
The partners are also taking a broader approach to networking, extending beyond xHaul transport to collaborate across IoT, 5G, and Wi‑Fi, supporting the next wave of industrial transformation. These efforts are intended to accelerate private 5G adoption and deliver targeted solutions for enterprise and industrial customers.
Within Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration program, NEC’s new UNIVERGE RV 1200 radio is being qualified with Cisco’s Private 5G solution at Cisco’s 5G Showcase in Tokyo—an innovation hub and engineering site for 5G services. This validation aims to bring advanced private 5G solutions to the Japanese market.
The NEC UNIVERGE RV 1200 radio is purpose-built for Japan’s private 5G market. It integrates RU, CU, and DU functions in a single compact, lightweight unit suitable for both indoor and outdoor deployment. This all-in-one design increases flexibility and scalability for varied installation scenarios and enterprise use cases.
Suhun Yun, Managing Director of NEC’s Digital Network Business Division, said: “We are pleased to expand private 5G capabilities within our long-standing strategic partnership with Cisco. This collaboration will help accelerate private 5G market growth and support efforts to address social and industrial challenges.”
Both companies emphasize that their combined approach—merging Cisco’s technological leadership with NEC’s global integration expertise—will help operators and enterprises deploy robust, automated, and scalable 5G transport and private network solutions. These efforts target faster deployment, improved service quality, and new monetization opportunities enabled by routed optical networking, advanced automation, and integrated radio solutions.
By expanding their joint offerings, Cisco and NEC aim to provide operators and enterprises with tools to simplify multi-vendor operations, accelerate digital transformation, and unlock the full potential of 5G across industries.