Nokia and NTT DATA Expand Private 5G Network in Brownsville, Texas

Nokia and NTT DATA have expanded their global Private 5G partnership with a deployment in Brownsville, Texas. This initiative provides enhanced connectivity for smart city applications, improving public safety and operational efficiency. Leveraging Nokia’s AirScale RAN and NTT DATA’s Private 5G Network-as-a-Service platform, the city is set to benefit from scalable, high-speed wireless solutions that support future digital transformation goals. This collaboration positions Brownsville as a leader in smart city innovation in North America.
Brownsville Partners with NTT DATA for 5G Smart City
Image Credit: Brownsville

Nokia and NTT DATA announced an expansion of their global Private 5G partnership with a new deployment in Brownsville, Texas. This collaboration aims to bring Private 5G solutions to sectors like smart cities and airports, driving digital transformation and operational efficiency. With this deployment, the City of Brownsville is set to benefit from enhanced connectivity, improved public safety, and operational scalability, accelerating its transformation into a smart and safe city.

Overcoming Connectivity Challenges in Brownsville’s Digital Transformation

As cities grow, they face increasing pressure to modernize infrastructure, enhance public services, and maintain security. In Brownsville, meeting these demands while preparing for future expansion is essential. Managing the various aspects of city operations—public safety, transportation, and utilities—requires reliable, high-speed connectivity that current systems may struggle to provide. The challenge lies in delivering secure, scalable, and resilient connectivity for both immediate needs and future digital transformation goals.

Nokia and NTT DATA’s 5G Solution for Brownsville’s Future Smart City

The Private 5G network solution from Nokia and NTT DATA addresses these challenges head-on. Nokia’s 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) technology combined with NTT DATA’s Private 5G Network-as-a-Service (P5G) platform provides Brownsville with seamless, high-bandwidth, and low-latency wireless capabilities. This deployment enables better connectivity for mission-critical operations, such as public safety systems and municipal applications. Additionally, it offers the flexibility and scalability to support future use cases as the city continues to evolve as a tech hub.

Global Success Stories of Private 5G Deployment by Nokia and NTT DATA

Nokia and NTT DATA have already achieved success with similar projects globally. Their Private 5G deployments at Cologne Bonn Airport and Germany’s Fraport AG demonstrate the real-world impact of these solutions. In these cases, the implementation of Private 5G has enhanced operational efficiency and enabled real-time, data-driven decision-making. These successes serve as a blueprint for what’s possible in Brownsville and beyond.

Why Brownsville Chose Nokia and NTT DATA for Private 5G Deployment

The City of Brownsville chose Nokia’s AirScale RAN for its robust, carrier-grade performance. This choice is supported by NTT DATA’s globally available P5G platform, which simplifies deployment and management through its Edge Computing and AI capabilities. Together, these technologies offer a comprehensive solution that meets Brownsville’s immediate needs for public safety and operational efficiency while ensuring scalability for future growth.

Key Benefits of Brownsville’s Private 5G Network Deployment

This Private 5G deployment in Brownsville offers numerous benefits:

  • Enhanced public safety: Reliable connectivity enables better coordination and faster response times for emergency services.
  • Operational scalability: With ubiquitous 5G connectivity, city operations like traffic management, utilities, and smart city initiatives can scale more efficiently.
  • Industry expansion: Improved infrastructure positions Brownsville to attract new businesses and industries, fostering economic growth.

Additionally, this deployment lays the groundwork for Brownsville to become a leader in smart city innovation in North America.

How Nokia and NTT DATA’s Private 5G is Transforming Industries

The partnership between Nokia and NTT DATA has the potential to drive significant change across various industries, especially smart cities and airports. By providing scalable and secure 5G connectivity, the collaboration enables cities like Brownsville to enhance public services, improve safety, and streamline operations. This deployment represents a shift toward smarter, more efficient urban environments where digital transformation plays a central role in everyday life.

Nokia and NTT DATA: Driving Private 5G Adoption in Smart Cities

Nokia brings its expertise in network technology, offering an “anyRAN for Enterprise” approach that provides flexibility and choice for enterprises. NTT DATA complements this with its ability to integrate both IT and OT applications, ensuring that the Private 5G network meets the city’s specific requirements. Together, these companies deliver a comprehensive solution that accelerates the adoption of Private Networks and drives innovation.

NTT DATA’s Partner Ecosystem for Brownsville’s 5G Network Success

NTT DATA’s role extends beyond technology implementation. The company fosters a robust partner ecosystem that supports the development, deployment, and ongoing management of the Private 5G network. By collaborating with leading systems integrators and cloud core solution providers, NTT DATA ensures that the solution is scalable, secure, and tailored to meet the unique needs of industries like smart cities and airports.

Brownsville’s First Private 5G Network: Status and Future Potential

The Private 5G network deployment in Brownsville marks the first North American implementation for the Nokia and NTT DATA partnership. This project is a key milestone in their global collaboration and sets the stage for further deployments across various sectors and regions. With the infrastructure now in place, the City of Brownsville is poised to begin reaping the benefits of its new Private 5G network.

The deployment in Brownsville was officially announced in October 2024, and the network is expected to be fully operational by early 2025. This rapid timeline underscores the efficiency and scalability of the solution provided by Nokia and NTT DATA, paving the way for future projects globally.

Leaders Endorse Brownsville’s 5G Network and Future Innovation

Jorge Cardenas, Chief Information Officer at the City of Brownsville, emphasized the importance of this deployment: “By prioritizing Private 5G, we’re positioning Brownsville to stay ahead in technological innovation and economic progress.”

Shahid Ahmed, Executive Vice President of Edge Services at NTT DATA, highlighted the unprecedented demand for high-performance private networks and the collaboration’s ability to meet these needs. Similarly, Mark Atkinson, Head of RAN at Nokia, noted the partnership’s role in accelerating digital transformation across key sectors.

With these endorsements, the deployment in Brownsville is a significant step toward creating smarter, more connected urban environments that leverage Private 5G for long-term growth and innovation.


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TeckNexus is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 Private Networks Awards, celebrating outstanding achievements in private 5G, LTE, and CBRS innovations. This prestigious program honors companies, solutions, and collaborations that have transformed connectivity and redefined industry standards in sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, smart cities, and public safety. The winners showcase how advanced private networks and strategic partnerships address complex challenges, drive innovation, and promote sustainable growth.

Award Category: Excellence in Private 5G/LTE Networks

Winner: Nokia


Nokia has been recognized with the TeckNexus 2024 Award for “Excellence in Private 5G/LTE Networks” for its transformative solutions that drive industrial digital transformation. Utilizing advanced technologies such as Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) and Modular Private Wireless (MPW), Nokia delivers secure, scalable, and high-performance connectivity tailored for Industry 4.0 applications. By addressing complex operational challenges through reliable, low-latency connectivity, AI-driven automation, and robust data security, Nokia empowers enterprises to optimize efficiency, enhance automation, and foster sustainability. With deployments across over 500 enterprise customers and 1,500 mission-critical networks, Nokia’s innovative private wireless solutions are setting new standards for connectivity, operational excellence, and industrial growth worldwide.

Award Category: Excellence in Neutral Host Networks

Winner: Celona

Partners: Del Conca and T-Mobile


Celona’s innovative 5G LAN and Neutral Host solutions have been recognized with the TeckNexus 2024 Award for “Excellence in Neutral Host Networks” for transforming connectivity and operational efficiency at Del Conca USA, a leading manufacturer of fine Italian porcelain tiles. By addressing the limitations of legacy Wi-Fi systems, Celona deployed a robust, scalable private wireless network that significantly enhanced coverage, mobility, and operational resilience across Del Conca’s 30-acre facility. Leveraging the Citizen’s Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum, Celona’s solution delivered reliable, interference-resistant connectivity, optimizing real-time data communication for Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and forklifts, thereby minimizing production delays and improving material handling efficiency. Additionally, Celona’s Neutral Host capabilities seamlessly integrated public cellular networks through a partnership with T-Mobile, providing uninterrupted indoor and outdoor connectivity for employees. This deployment not only showcased the transformative impact of Celona’s private 5G and Neutral Host solutions on manufacturing automation but also set a new benchmark for scalable, secure, and collaborative network integration across industrial environments.

Award Category: Excellence in Private Network Startups

Winner: GXC


GXC’s ONYX Platform, powered by Cellular Mesh technology, delivers scalable, seamless, and secure communication across industries. Recognized with the TeckNexus 2024 Award for “Excellence in Private Network Startups,” GXC’s proprietary Cellular Mesh technology and its ONYX Platform have established it as a frontrunner in delivering reliable, high-performance connectivity solutions tailored to meet the complex needs of enterprises.

Award Category: Excellence in Private Network Security

Winner: OneLayer


OneLayer’s innovative Zero Trust and Zero-Touch automation solutions provide unmatched security, visibility, and scalability for private LTE/5G networks. This approach has earned OneLayer the prestigious TeckNexus 2024 Award for “Excellence in Private Network Security,” recognizing their contributions to safeguarding private networks. By implementing robust security frameworks and automated device management, OneLayer empowers industries to efficiently manage and protect complex private cellular networks, enhancing network integrity and resilience through unmatched visibility, automated onboarding, and scalable security measures.

Award Category: Private Network Excellence in Generative AI Integration

Winner: Southern California Edison (SCE) & NVIDIA


Southern California Edison (SCE), in collaboration with NVIDIA, has been honored with the TeckNexus 2024 Award for “Excellence in Private Network AI and Generative AI Integration” for their transformative work in modernizing network operations through advanced AI and predictive analytics. Their initiative, Project Orca, exemplifies the power of AI-driven innovation, enhancing predictive capabilities, operational efficiency, and the reliability of critical infrastructure. This collaboration highlights how SCE and NVIDIA’s AI solutions redefine network operations, elevating performance and setting new standards for AI integration in private networks.
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