December 3, 2024

Black Box Partners with Nokia and Corning to Validate Private 4G/5G Integration Over DAS

Black Box Partners with Nokia and Corning

Black Box, a global leader in communication and technology solutions, has announced the successful validation of interoperability between private 4G/5G networks and carrier signals over a single distributed antenna system (DAS). This achievement, accomplished through collaboration with Nokia and Corning Incorporated, allows for the cost-effective deployment of both private and public wireless services on a unified infrastructure.

Manu Singh, Global Practice Head of Wireless Technology Solutions at Black Box, stated, “We initiated this integration as part of the Black Box wireless technology offering, and we’re proud to have collaborated with Nokia and Corning to successfully test its compatibility. Leveraging our integration expertise and these partners’ advanced technologies, we’re able to offer a solution that brings value to customers across various markets and applications.”

The integration simplifies connectivity maintenance and reduces the need for separate infrastructure for Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS)-based private networks and public cellular services, lowering costs and complexity. This innovation benefits sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and hospitality by enhancing critical mobility, communications, IoT solutions, smart manufacturing, automation, and data security.

Nokia’s Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) private wireless solution was integrated as a signal source for Corning’s Everon® DAS system, providing reliable high-capacity and low-latency wireless connectivity. Nokia DAC supports demanding use cases with LTE and 5G and combines private wireless with Wi-Fi using MX Boost technology for improved capacity and reliability.

Pri Rawal, Head of Nokia’s Global Partner Enterprise Campus Edge Business, commented, “Through this collaboration, Nokia is supporting Black Box in the next step in its Industry 4.0 journey — and doing so in a more cost- and time-efficient way. By integrating the plug-and-play Nokia Digital Automation Cloud, Black Box can seamlessly connect the OT and Wi-Fi infrastructure it already has in place, future-proofing it with a high-capacity and low-latency private 5G foundation.”

Corning’s Everon 6200 DAS plays a critical role in this integration by providing exceptional performance, limitless capacity, and high speed, ensuring coverage within any facility. It supports public access spectrum and CBRS-based private networks over a fiber-to-the-edge active DAS distribution solution.

David Meis, Vice President of Wireless Technology at Corning Optical Communications, noted, “Corning is pleased to work alongside fellow industry innovators and to play a significant role in this telecommunications milestone. By reconciling private and commercial wireless networks on shared infrastructure, Corning, in collaboration with Black Box and Nokia, is not only paving the way for more cost-effective and efficient connectivity but also spearheading a new era of unified wireless technology.”

For more information on Black Box and its solutions, visit www.blackbox.com.

About Black Box

Black Box® is a trusted IT solutions provider delivering cutting-edge technology solutions and world-class consulting services to businesses globally. The company’s IT infrastructure solutions, services, and products enable secure, flawless connectivity and meaningful collaboration across six continents.

About Nokia

Nokia is a B2B technology innovation leader, pioneering networks that sense, think, and act. The company collaborates with service providers, enterprises, and partners worldwide to deliver secure, reliable, and sustainable networks today and to create digital services and applications for the future.

About Corning Incorporated

Corning is a leading innovator in materials science, known for its expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics. The company develops category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives, with markets including optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display, automotive, solar, semiconductors, and life sciences.