Nokia has broadened its Internet of Things (IoT) portfolio and analytics capabilities with the acquisition of SpaceTime Insight, a San Mateo, California-based company. This strategic move will accelerate Nokia’s development of new IoT applications tailored to key vertical markets.
SpaceTime Insight operates globally, with offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and Japan. The company provides machine learning-powered analytics and IoT applications for large, asset-intensive organisations across transportation, energy and utilities sectors. Its client roster includes major companies such as Entergy, FedEx, NextEra Energy, Singapore Power and Union Pacific Railroad. SpaceTime Insight’s advanced analytics and machine learning models are designed to predict asset health accurately and to optimise associated operations, helping customers reduce downtime, improve efficiency and extend asset lifetime.
As part of the acquisition, SpaceTime Insight and its CEO, Rob Schilling, will join Nokia’s IoT product unit within the Nokia Software business group. Integrating SpaceTime Insight’s analytics expertise into Nokia’s IoT product roadmap is expected to strengthen Nokia’s ability to deliver end-to-end IoT solutions that combine connectivity, data processing and actionable insights for industrial customers.
Separately, Nokia has successfully completed an over-the-air 5G call using a 3GPP-compliant 5G New Radio (NR) system operating on the 3.5 GHz frequency band. The demonstration was performed in collaboration with SFR at the Nokia 5G Test Network and Competence Centre in Paris-Saclay, France. The trial showcased multiple elements of Nokia’s 5G ecosystem, including the Nokia 5G NR technology, the AirScale radio platform, Cloud RAN (Radio Access Network) functionality and 3GPP-compliant test devices.
To support Cloud RAN for the test, Nokia deployed a cloud infrastructure based on its AirFrame data centre solution. The Nokia AirFrame open edge server is purpose-built for deployment at existing base station sites, with a compact form factor measuring 133.5 x 444 x 430 mm (HWD). Its small footprint and design make it suitable for constrained edge environments while delivering the compute performance and low latency required for real-time radio processing.
The AirFrame open edge server is integrated with a real-time Open Platform for NFV (OPNFV)-compatible OpenStack distribution, optimised for operation in small data centres and edge locations. This combination enables operators to host virtualised RAN functions and other latency-sensitive workloads closer to users and devices, supporting a broad range of 5G applications and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services.
According to Nokia, the AirFrame open edge cloud infrastructure was developed to meet “stringent and diverse low-latency data processing demands of Cloud RAN and advanced applications for consumers and industries.” The solution targets scenarios where quick processing, determinism and reliability are critical, such as industrial automation, smart grids, intelligent transportation and real-time analytics for utility assets.
Nokia indicated that it will begin shipping the AirFrame Open Edge server in the third quarter of 2018, positioning the product to support early commercial deployments of Cloud RAN and edge computing services.
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