Nokia and Safaricom have successfully trialed Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) network slicing on a live 4G and 5G network in Africa.
Network slicing lets operators partition a single physical network into multiple virtual slices, each optimised for specific services or applications. These slices can be configured with different performance priorities, quality-of-service levels, and security controls to meet varied customer and industry requirements.
The pioneering trial took place in a multi-vendor environment and covered RAN, transport, and core domains. It included software and system upgrades across several Nokia products and services to demonstrate end-to-end slicing on both 4G and 5G infrastructure.
Ramy Hashem, Head of Safaricom Customer Team at Nokia, said:
“Completing this pilot with Safaricom is an important milestone in delivering advanced connectivity. Gaining early experience with slicing technology is invaluable to identify new business opportunities it enables. Nokia was an early vendor to offer slicing solutions, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Safaricom to provide world-class 4G and 5G network slicing services.”
This successful pilot represents the first verified deployment of 4G/5G network slicing in Africa, demonstrating how operators can deliver tailored connectivity services over existing mobile networks.
James Maitai, Network Director at Safaricom, added:
“We are proud to have hosted Africa’s first successful pilot of 4G/5G FWA slicing on our network. This capability allows us to craft service offerings to specific customers and industries, giving them precise high-speed connectivity without unnecessary cost. Nokia’s expertise has been essential to this outcome, and we expect more strategic successes as our business grows.”
Nokia’s 4G/5G slicing solution previously won an “Innovative Breakthrough in Mobile Technology” award at GTI 2021. The solution supports LTE, 5G Non-Standalone (NSA), and 5G Standalone (SA) modes, and enables slice continuity across these technologies, helping operators maintain service quality as users move between networks.
(Photo by Ivan Torres on Unsplash)
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