Page 11 - SAMENA Trends - December 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

stc Tests MENA’s First ORAN on Live Network

In collaboration with its partners stc to launch commercial 5G services in 2018. Khaled Aldharrab, VP, Infrastructure, stc,
Solutions and Altiostar, becomes the first With ORAN stc will provide the foundation said: “Open RAN is a large and crucial part
operator in the MENA region to run live for next-generation wireless networks, of stc’s future virtualized infrastructure.
ORAN session’s. ORAN is a revolutionary improving the quality of many real-time This technology is promising to
technology that promises to change the services and enabling an endless number change the way we currently think of
landscape of wireless service offering. of use-cases in a fully virtualized network Network solutions, providing: Openness,
ORAN runs on virtualized and modular infrastructure, aiding interoperability, disaggregation, speed, efficiency and
software cloud-based technologies, diversity and open ecosystem. ORAN will reduced time to market. The future of
delivering solutions in a quick and keep stc in line with its strategic drive Cloud-Native, modular software and
efficient manner. The test of ORAN marks for a bright digital future aligning with Micro-services will go far in addressing
another milestone in stc’s drive towards its DARE strategy and being an essential the customers high expectations
excellence, strengthening its position as ingredient of Kingdom’s drive towards and delivering our future vision.
the leading operator in the MENA region, digitization which is an instrumental
having previously been the first operator element of Kingdom’s 2030 vision. Eng.

stc Demos 5G FDD/TDD CA/Spectrum Sharing on Live Network

Saudi Telecom Company (stc) has Additionally, NSA Dual Connectivity provide users with greater throughput
announced a milestone in its 5G commercial was enabled in order to aggregate two and enables stc to efficiently manage 5G
network development, demonstrating new more LTE carriers using 40MHz total higher capacity. The 5G NR CA unlocks
radio (NR) time division duplex (TDD) bandwidth. stc’s announcement added: new sources of spectrum in both the mid-
and frequency division duplex (FDD) ‘The combination of NR FDD 700MHz and band and low-band radio frequencies. NR
carrier aggregation (CA) using Ericsson NR TDD 3.6GHz provides benefits in both CA will allow advanced RAN coordination,
Spectrum Sharing (ESS) and a single coverage and capacity enhancements. higher Peak Rate Throughput, extended
MediaTek Dimensity 5G chipset, reports Using NR FDD 700MHz with ESS solutions coverage and increased efficiency while
SatelliteproME. stc demoed a 5G non- enables spectrum sharing between 5G maximizing the use of spectrum assets.’
standalone (NSA) data call aggregating NR and LTE for more efficient spectrum TeleGeography notes that rival Saudi
20MHz FDD spectrum (shared with 4G LTE usage and NR coverage extension of mid- operator Mobily trialed 5G/4G spectrum
using ESS) and 100MHz TDD spectrum band TDD. The tests seamlessly showed sharing in the 800MHz/1800MHz bands
in live network conditions in Riyadh. that aggregating 5G connections can using ESS technology in September 2020.

stc Successfully Tests 5G New Radio Live Site Using mmWave Technology
Band n257 with 800MHz Bandwidth

stc announced another milestone in its the world. Moreover, 5G NR mmWave of digital service providers in the region
5G commercial network development, will support new and enhanced mobile and globally” Khalid Hussein, Head of stc
demonstrating New Radio (NR) with 8 experiences with fiber-like data speeds. It is Customer Business Team at Nokia, said:
carrier aggregation (CA) using Nokia a key spectrum for future 5G densification “This is indeed a remarkable feat in terms
advanced mmWave technology and on a to address the capacity demand in of 5G speed and throughput together with
single Qualcomm 5G chipset. The company hotspots and mass event areas. Haithem stc. Our mmWave technology has enabled
established the 5G Non-standalone (NSA) Alfaraj, SVP, Technology and Operations, the fastest 5G speed in the country and
data call by aggregating 8CC x100MHz stc, said: “Stemming from our vision, we this achievement demonstrates the
on mmWave spectrum (26Ghz) on live adopt leading next generation technology capacity of our commercially deployed
network conditions in Makkah City. to reinvent customers’ experience. The 5G solutions. We are excited to have
mmWave spectrum can provide numerous achieved results of 5G mmWave testing achieved this to deliver incredible 5G
high-capacity, low-latency 5G applications mark a significant milestone in stc 5G experiences to people and businesses
that will fuel economic growth and societal journey and underpins stc determination in the country and continue to work with
benefits in the kingdom and around to constantly evolve to be at the forefront them for the evolution of stc’s 5G network.”

11 DECEMBER 2020