Nokia has confirmed reports that it is partnering with Foxconn to manufacture its 5G AirScale equipment at Foxconn's factory in Vietnam.
The partnership was first reported last week in Vietnam Investment Review, published by Vietnamese newspaper Dau Tu, which is run by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
According to the report, Foxconn will manufacture Nokia's 5G AirScale equipment, including the latest AirScale Massive MIMO radio products, at its factory in the northern province of Bac Giang.
Foxconn will begin production next month, and scale up output by September. The products are intended for both domestic and international customers.
Neither Foxconn nor Nokia have released official statements regarding the arrangement. However, a Nokia spokesperson confirmed a report in an email to Developing Telecoms.
The report quoted a Foxconn spokesperson as saying the move “highlights the role of Vietnam as a favourite manufacturing destination.”
The report also noted that the deal could help accelerate deployment of 5G in Vietnam, where Nokia has been involved in 5G trials with service providers.
Nokia Vietnam general director Ruben Flores told the newspaper that making AirScale products in Vietnam would “meet customer demand and improve cost efficiency”.
