Finnish network vendor Nokia has announced a partnership with Andorix to ramp up the adoption of Private 5G networks and neutral host networks in North America.

In an announcement this week, Nokia noted that it sees an opportunity to support real estate owners looking for a 5G private cellular platform.

As such, Nokia has paired with digital infrastructure and smart building solutions provider Andorix to deliver 5G services and neutral host networks for properties across the US and Canada.

According to Nokia, its 5G private cellular offering will support Operational Technology (OT) use cases, including energy management and efficiency, building operations and optimization, plus physical and cybersecurity on a resilient infrastructure.

The partnership will also support real estate companies to provide a converged and future-proof smart 5G platform that can “expand indoor cellular coverage to improve their tenants’ experience with connectivity and value-added Edge applications.”

“Private 5G networks are transforming how enterprises operate, and in-building connectivity is a critical piece of that puzzle,” said Willie Kopp, head of enterprise campus Edge sales, North America, Nokia.

“By partnering with Andorix, we are combining best-in-class 5G technology with proven in-building converged network deployment expertise to support the growing demand for private 5G connectivity within the built environment in North America.”

To date, Nokia has deployed private wireless networks for 890 customers globally, with 24 percent of those customers in North America.

Nokia notes that its partnership with Andorix will combine its Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) and MX Industrial Edge (MXIE) offering, plus Andorix’s experience in designing and deploying scalable in-building converged networks within real estate environments.

The vendor stated that the goal of the partnership is to accelerate the rollout of 5G indoor connectivity for commercial, retail, residential, and industrial property. Through this, Nokia said it will enable technologies such as VR, indoor navigation, and facilitate IoT deployments.