Beeline will deploy the latest Nokia appliance solutions in order to strengthen its customer services and network performance.

Beeline, part of the international Veon group, today announced that it is signing a US$10 million worth of agreement with Nokia to acquire a cloud-native software to modernize the company’s core network throughout the country. Core network modernization means significantly improved customer services, network performance, and security, including paving a foundation for a 5G rollout. As part of the contract, Beeline will also implement Nokia’s Home Location Register (HLR), making Nokia its sole network vendor. HLR is a critical core component, given its role as the repository for securely storing subscriber data.

The core network modernization allows for near-zero touch automation and increased operational efficiencies, which will enable Beeline to meet rising customer demand for a greater bandwidth capacity, service quality and reliability, and enhanced product innovation and services.

In addition to HLR, Beeline acquires Nokia’s cloud-native Cloud Mobile Gateway (CMG) and Cloud Mobility Manager (CMM) appliance solutions, which provides Beeline a capability to rapidly launch 5G services in the future without making significant changes to the network.

Deployment of the core network modernization is expected to start in the third quarter of 2021.

Lasha Tabidze, Beeline CEO, said: “This is a milestone accomplishment for Beeline, which will bring our subscribers a reliable, steady network, seamless customer experience and services. The solutions from Nokia will provide Beeline with the necessary adaptability, preparedness and potency to meet the demand for enhanced mobile broadband, the Internet of Things and advanced 4G services while enabling 5G capabilities of the future. We are very pleased to have chosen the best-in-class Nokia corporation as our partner.”

Kaan Terzioglu, VEON Group CEO, said: “Modernising our core network in Georgia with Nokia reflects our strong partnership, and will enhance our capabilities to deliver superior customer experience on Beeline Georgia’s 4G networks and help us prepare the groundwork for 5G technologies of the future. Our customers in Georgia have an increasing demand for a wider range of experiences built on connectivity and digital services; and this important upgrade to our infrastructure allows us to serve them better, and with greater internal efficiency.

Mikko Lavanti, Vice President, Head of Central Europe & Central Asia, Nokia, said: “We are very pleased to help Beeline with this important step in its digital transformation. Modernizing its core network will deliver a stronger, more responsive and more efficient customer experience; and positions Beeline to move quickly to 5G once 5G deployments get underway in the country.”