T-Mobile is getting serious about 5G with the mobile network provider penning a major $3.5bn deal with Nokia for its 5G network gear.

As part of the agreement, Nokia will provide T-Mobile with its complete end-to-end 5G technology, software and services portfolio. T-Mobile will use the Finnish telecoms company’s equipment to build a 5G network across the US with 600 MHz and 28 GHz millimetre wave 5G capabilities.

“We are all in on 5G,” said Neville Ray, chief technology officer at T-Mobile. “Every dollar we spend is a 5G dollar, and our agreement with Nokia underscores the kind of investment we’re making to bring customers a mobile, nationwide 5G network.”

The deal will see T-Mobile leverage Nokia’s commercial AirScale radio platforms and cloud-native core, AirFrame hardware, CloudBand software, SON, and 5G Acceleration Services. Utilising this gear, the pair aim to develop, test, and launch services that will cover enterprise, smart cities, utilities, transportation, health, manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and government agencies.

“Nokia and T-Mobile will advance the large-scale deployment of 5G services throughout the United States,” said Ashish Chowdhary, chief customer operations officer at Nokia.