- Optus selects Nokia’s cloud-native IMS platform to modernise its voice infrastructure
- Deployment will support enhanced 5G voice services including ultra-HD calling
What happened: Network modernisation initiative
Australian telco Optus has partnered with Nokia to deploy a cloud-native voice core network, as announced in Nokia’s press release. The solution leverages Nokia’s IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) technology, which will replace Optus’s legacy voice infrastructure to improve service reliability by up to 40%, according to internal testing data.
The rollout will occur in phases across 2024-2025, beginning with major metropolitan areas. It forms part of Optus’s A$1.5 billion ($1 billion) network investment programme, which also includes expanding its 5G standalone coverage to 80% of the population by 2026, as detailed in Optus’s network strategy.
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Why it’s important
This transition addresses a critical gap in 5G adoption – while data services have advanced, most This network modernisation addresses a critical gap in 5G adoption. While data services have advanced rapidly, most operators still rely on legacy systems for voice calls, creating a technological imbalance. Nokia’s cloud-native solution enables 50% faster call setup times and 99.999% reliability for emergency services, while natively supporting emerging 5G Voice over New Radio (VoNR) standards that deliver studio-quality audio.
However, significant implementation challenges remain. Approximately 65% of Optus’s subscriber base still uses 4G devices according to ACMA data, requiring complex backward compatibility measures. The transition also comes as Australian regulators increase scrutiny of telecom reliability following recent nationwide outages, with new ACMA rules mandating backup systems for critical voice services. Successfully navigating these technical and regulatory hurdles could position Optus as a regional leader in next-generation voice infrastructure.
