Finnish telecom equipment supplier Nokia is in discussions with Adani Data Networks to set up 5G private networks using the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency band for a host of the Adani group’s businesses, particularly for mining, sea ports and airports management.
“Nokia is in touch with Adani Data Networks to establish 5G-backed networks for their captive use across business areas focussing on ports and mining verticals,” a person familiar with the discussions said.
Adani Data Networks is a wholly owned unit of
, a part of the diversified Adani Group with interests ranging from electric power generation, renewable energy and natural gas to port management, mining operations, airport management and food processing in these states.
A private or captive network is an extension to a wireless technology for the creation of a dedicated local area network (LAN) within a specific premise or business facility for seamless connectivity needs, and is restricted from offering services outside.
Queries to the Adani Group and Nokia did not elicit any response.
In the recently held spectrum auction, Adani Data Networks bought 400 MHz airwaves in the 26 GHz (mmWave) for ₹212 crore, becoming the sole non-telco entity to have bought radiowaves. It purchased 100 MHz each in Gujarat and Mumbai circles, and 50 MHz each in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, and has also sought a universal access services licence (UASL) for these circles.
The Adani group had announced its participation in the auctions with the intention to provide private network solutions along with enhanced cyber security at airports, ports and logistics, power generation, distribution and manufacturing operations.
Soon after winning airwaves, Adani said it will enter the industrial 5G space and create a unified digital platform to digitise its core infrastructure, primary industry and B2C business portfolios.
“Acquiring 400MHz of spectrum is the group’s first step in integrating its digital infrastructure portfolio, which includes data centres, terrestrial fibre and submarine cables, industrial cloud, AI innovation labs, cybersecurity and superApps,” the Ahmedabad-headquartered company had said.