Nokia today confirmed it has been awarded a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar extension deal by Bharti Airtel to deploy 4G and 5G equipment across key Indian cities and states.

The Finnish vendor said the extension will see it provide its 5G AirScale portfolio to the carrier, which includes base stations, baseband units, and the latest generation of Massive MIMO radios.

Nokia notes that the products will bolster Airtel's 5G network, which launched more than two years ago.

On top of this, Nokia will also help modernize Airtel's existing 4G network through multiband radios and baseband equipment, which can also support 5G.

Airtel will use Nokia's MantaRay Network Management for intelligent network monitoring and management, which uses AI-based tools covering digital deployment, optimization, and technical support.

“This strategic agreement further solidifies our long-standing collaboration with Airtel and our footprint in India," said Pekka Lundmark, president and CEO of Nokia.

"Our industry-leading AirScale portfolio and AI-based services will enhance the energy efficiency of Airtel’s network, enabling premium 5G capacity and connectivity with the highest quality of service for subscribers.”

Nokia has worked with Airtel for more than two decades, spanning 2G, 3G, 4G, and now 5G network equipment.

Earlier this year, the two companies carried out a 5G non-standalone Cloud RAN trial in India, which utilized 3.5 GHz spectrum for 5G and 2,100 MHz for 4G and was carried out in an over-the-air environment.

Just last month, Nokia and Airtel also partnered on a “Green 5G” initiative to introduce energy-efficient solutions and practices to Airtel's mobile network.

It was also reported last month that Airtel, which serves around 90 million 5G subscribers, signed a multi-billion contract with Nokia rival, Ericsson.