NTT DATA Corp. and Nokia Corp. are broadening their multi-year partnership to bring private 5G networks to more cities, ports and airports globally.

On Monday, Nokia and NTT DATA said they are now targeting municipalities in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, building on their deal from a year ago in a bold bid to grab a slice of an estimated $8 billion market by 2026, according to market researcher IDC.

The companies, whose initial effort helped transform Brownsville, Texas, from the worst-connected city to one of the best, has leveraged private 5G networks to improve everything from public services to high-speed broadband access for everyone. In addition to the south Texas city, NTT DATA has driven the adoption of IoT, automation and other features to Cologne Bonn Airport and Fraport Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide.

“We’re seeing an unprecedented demand for flexible, high-performance private networks. With NTT DATA’s globally available Private 5G platform, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver solutions that meet the needs of today’s industries while ensuring long-term operational resilience,” Shahid Ahmed, executive vice president of edge services at NTT DATA, said in a statement.

Added Mark Atkinson, head of RAN at Nokia: “Nokia’s Private 5G RAN, combined with NTT DATA’s technology services, creates the ideal platform for a wide range of use cases and we look forward to partnering on further innovations together.”

What the partnership has brought to Brownsville will lay the technical foundation for more connected, efficient urban environments across the world and “create a powerful synergy” that ensures the delivery of private 5G that supports digital transformation initiatives, the companies said.

“As Brownsville continues to grow as a prominent tech hub, the deployment of a Private 5G network is essential,” Jorge Cardenas, chief information officer at Brownsville, said in a statement. “This cutting-edge network will provide faster connectivity and foster the adoption of emerging technologies. By prioritizing Private 5G, we’re positioning Brownsville to stay ahead in technological innovation and economic progress.”

NTT DATA, in turn, has rapidly expanded its private 5G ecosystem with hundreds of partners and clients such as Cisco Systems Inc., Schneider Electric SE, Zebra Technologies Corp., Qualcomm Inc. and BMW.