Ericsson has already partnered with Bhutan Telecom to deploy previous generations of mobile connectivity. This included providing connectivity in parts of country where navigation is often only possible by motorable mountain passes. The 5G deployment will also contribute to Bhutanese Government’s efforts to bridge the digital divide in the country and drive innovative fourth industrial revolution (4IR), or Industry 4.0, opportunities for businesses, industries, verticals and the public sectors. Ericsson will work with Bhutan Telecom to explore related next-generation use cases tapping artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), automation and the Internet of Things (IoT).
The contract includes 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) deployment that covers Ericsson Radio System products and solutions, including Ericsson Spectrum Sharing, Packet Core upgrade, OSS/BSS 5G enhancements initially and 5G Standalone (SA) introduction in subsequent years. Ericsson has partnered with Bhutan Telecom since 2004 when the first mobile network was deployed in the country. Since then, Ericsson has deployed 2G, 3G, and 4G network technologies. Bhutan Telecom also selected Ericsson as its Business Support Systems (BSS) transformation partner in 2016. Ericsson and Bhutan Telecom have also deployed a disaster resilient, emergency telecom core network in Bhutan as a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) grant project. The emergency telecom core network, which tapped Ericsson’s Digital Services portfolio, provides users with seamless and uninterrupted connectivity, even during natural calamities.