Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark made a phone call using new “immersive audio and video” tech that uses 3D sound on a 5G smartphone, as part of the 5G Advanced standard
Nokia (NOKIA.HE) CEO Pekka Lundmark made a phone call using a new technology called “immersive audio and video” …
Context & Ripple Effects
Nokia’s consumer-phone history in the related coverage centered on a brand-and-IP licensing model, including its Nokia brand licensing arrangement with HMD. This demonstration instead puts Nokia’s network technology at the center of the handset experience.
The call provides a visible use case for the company’s broader shift beyond consumer devices, later reflected in its expansion into cloud, data-center, and optical networking work.
First-order effects
- Nokia gains a concrete demonstration of how 5G Advanced can change a live call experience through spatial audio, rather than positioning the standard only around network performance.
- Mobile operators and smartphone makers have a specific interoperability feature to assess as 5G Advanced implementations and compatible devices emerge.
Second-order effects
- Network-equipment rivals will face pressure to show comparable support for immersive communications features if operators treat them as a service differentiator.
- The feature’s value depends on coordinated handset, software, and network support, making device compatibility a gating factor for any consumer rollout.
Third-order effects
- If immersive calling becomes broadly supported, 5G standards competition could shift further from raw connectivity claims toward experience features that operators can package into differentiated service tiers.
- The demonstration points to a wider convergence of network infrastructure and application experience, though commercial adoption will depend on ecosystem implementation rather than a single vendor demo.
The trend: 5G Advanced is becoming a platform for visible, device-facing services as vendors seek to turn network upgrades into differentiated user experiences.