Nokia Software, the hidden jewel that is looking at India’s 5G push

Nokia Software is eyeing trials for India’s 5G telecom network, and has made a case for participating in the pilot runs citing its expertise in deploying 5G networks commercially in the United States, South Korea and Japan.

“India is both a very important talent base and large, local market for us,” said Bhaskar Gorti, President of Nokia Software, adding that the business was a hidden jewel of the telecom infrastructure and networking major. “So (in) 5G, we are not just in pilots or trials, we are in commercial deployment.”

Nokia hired Gorti — who built Oracle’s telecom software business — in 2015 to create a software entity that would give it an edge. The company has built significant software capability in India, Gorti said, and the country acts as an innovation lab for global customers to demonstrate its technology.