Page 79 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

ARTICLE SAMENA TRENDS

Further empowering Multi-Access Edge (VoNR), dedicated data access, dedicated scalable capacities and characteristics,
Computing (MEC) deployment, 5G SA will internet access, as well as, on-demand with different charging criteria of services
enable stc to become not only Cloud Native, services such as, cloud CCTV capabilities in line with their digital transformation and
but Edge Native as well. This transition will to empower enhanced smart city services business model demands.
allow service aggregation near subscriber to citizens, and assist businesses in
premises. From massive data processing innovating and generating new revenue Engineer Fahad Abdulrahman Al Ali,
in enterprise campus scenarios, real-time streams in untapped markets. Chief Technology Officer at stc, said,
data processing in industrial control, and “stc positions itself to provide state-of-
autonomous driving, to massive IoT use Focusing on the user experience and the-art 5G intelligent connectivity and
cases requiring analytics localization enhanced 5G coverage, especially indoors agile 5G SA cloud native infrastructure
and better user experience for AR/VR/ and in weak coverage spots, stc started to ensure mapping of business and
cloud. 5G SA enables different verticals to delivering Sub-3GHz 2.1GHz 5G NR with government transformations. We offer
gain advantage from stc’s infrastructure national wide implementation since enhanced coverage services through Sub-
by creating end-to-end isolated logical mid-2020. The Company foresaw the 3GHz 2.1GHz 5G NR which add 4G/5G
networks that share resources in a secured, fundamental need of deploying national collaborations, 5G Carrier Aggregation and
isolated, and efficient way, also known as Sub-3GHz 5G NR over the 2.1GHz band. precise indoor/outdoor inter-operability
Network Slicing. This allows public and Upon doing so, stc became the first telecom to our 5G network. We aim to provide the
private corporations increase their levels operator to commercially launch such an best service experience for 5G consumers,
of efficiency and increase revenue when advanced technology on a large scale in such as iPhone 12 5G users, by providing
building their private networks, without the the MENA Region. Currently, 2.1GHz 5G improved 5G indoor service accessibility,
hassle of investing in new infrastructure, NR sites have been strategically installed higher quality video streaming,
acquiring new spectrums, developing in dense districts. To further boost its uninterrupted gaming experience, and
coverage, and getting capital assets. infrastructure coverage, stc plans to deploy battery power saving solutions.
stc will also be able to offer diversified more sites in 2021. The new deployment
digital services to verticals, such as will play an important role for a number Al Ali added, “stc strides to accelerate
guaranteed voice over 5G applications of years to come, providing enhanced vertical transformation by constructing
Quality of Experience (QoE) for multiple advanced Business Support Systems
Focusing on the user 5G use cases, such as HD voice, 4K video tolerated to fulfil a wide-range of industry
experience and enhanced streaming, online gaming, telemedicine and transformations and business model
collaborative applications. The services
requirements. This stems from our
5G coverage, especially are offered over the most popular 2.1 GHz commitment to fulfill the needs of startups,
indoors and in weak 5G NR supported smartphones and other SMEs and larger enterprises by offering
5G devices including Apple, Samsung, and
flexible, automated, scalable, guaranteed,
coverage spots, stc started Huawei devices. This will enable smoother and reliable service solutions that can
delivering Sub-3GHz access to 5G Carrier Aggregation (CA) accelerate their digital strategies into the
2.1GHz 5G NR with national Services and mass deployment for Internet 5G platform allowing the introduction of
of Thing (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine
new solutions and business processes.’’
wide implementation since (M2M) over stc’s 5G infrastructure offering
mid-2020. The Company enhanced smart city services to users, The Company’s strategic plans tie in new
opportunities by utilizing new generation 5G
while assisting businesses in launching
foresaw the fundamental new-to-market solutions. infrastructure with rich multidimensional
need of deploying national stc has been systematically working on designs and a native cloud architecture to
offer enterprises with guaranteed Service
Sub-3GHz 5G NR over monetizing its 5G infrastructure with Level Agreements (SLAs). After the large-
the 2.1GHz band. Upon advanced Business Support Systems scale deployment of Sub-3GHz 5G, stc
doing so, stc became the toward native cloud Network architecture. projects high levels of improved in-depth
coverage and user experience of stc's
The systems aim to introduce innovative
first telecom operator to Network-as-a-Service models capable 5G network, laying a solid foundation
commercially launch such of integrating 3rd party APIs and utilizing for the sound development of 5G MBB
DevOps Tools to suit wide-ranges of
services. Supporting the business growth
an advanced technology industry transformations. Vertical owners of enterprise customers comes as a key
on a large scale in the will be able to save their top and/or contribution from stc to the transformation
MENA Region. bottom lines by quickly transforming of businesses in line with Kuwait’s 2035
Vision.
their businesses through differentiated

79 APRIL-MAY 2021