Page 18 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

MEMBERS NEWS

stc Announces the First Deployment of 5G Stand-
Alone In MENA Region

As the first in the region to achieve this rapid use case developments and “New 5G services will continue to be top
remarkable milestone, stc announced application prototyping. It will also ensure priorities for our customers. We are very
the first deployment of 5G SA and “5G an open and scalable service ecosystem. proud of our continued technological push
Voice over New Radio” service in live At the same time, the true 5G enabled to reinforce stc’s leading position in the
network. This technologically innovative Voice Service (VoNR) is the latest evolution region. We believe this is just the beginning
accomplishment will enable stc to deploy of voice call solution that offers 5G users of stc’s digital service innovation. stc is
enhanced data and voice services over an true High Definition “HD” Voice and Video determined to bring to market the most
agile, cloud native, next generation end-to- calls on a 5G (SA) network, without the advanced technologies and solutions, to
end 5G network. The 5G SA core network need for the classical fall-back to a 4G deliver total digital transformation. Every
is an outright paradigm shift in the way LTE network. With these 5G developments, technology and service innovation we
the world looks at networks. It provides stc will be able to build a powerful accomplish comes with the high objective
the ability to not only provide very high and secure digital ecosystem, where of offering the best quality services to our
data throughput but also ultra-low latency, enterprises and consumers can benefit valued customers. The launch of 5G SA
along with highest possible service from more innovative services tailored network and 5G VoNR service is a real
availability. Additionally, stc's 5G SA core to their exact needs. Always available life translation of our DARE strategy, stc’s
network platform is a truly cloud-native and highest quality voice and video calls digital transformation aspirations and in
and containerized / micro-service based are the foundation of the contemporary line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s
architecture. The objective is to allow for a telecom ethos. Eng. Haithem Alfaraj, SVP, National Vision 2030.”
smooth and continuous service innovation, Technology and Operations, stc, said:

Stc and Rakuten Mobile Sign a MoU

stc and Rakuten Mobile, Inc. announced the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the aim of collaborating
in the field of innovation and strategic mobile technology. The
two companies will explore future opportunities to collaborate in
various technology domains, including, fully autonomous digital
platform serving telecommunication cloud network, OpenRAN
deployment options for greenfield and brownfield use-cases,
operating models and business value realization. With the signing operators who are ideally positioned to place advanced customer
of this MoU, stc and Rakuten Mobile aim to accelerate the delivery experience and differentiated profitable services at the center
of mobile network services through the use of open technology of their offering.” Rakuten Mobile, Inc., a subsidiary of Rakuten,
that will facilitate and revolutionize wireless infrastructure. The Inc a leading global internet services company headquartered in
new OpenRAN mobile access technology promises to improve the Tokyo, launched its commercial mobile operations in April this
quality of many real-time services. Eng. Nasser S. Al Nasser, Group year, becoming the fourth mobile operator in Japan. Rakuten’s
CEO, stc, said: “this MoU aims to expand our global partnerships network is the world’s first cloud-native, software-centric and fully
and help diversify our strategic growth. We are confident this MoU virtualized mobile network. This innovative approach to building
will bring tangible results in terms of developing a new advance mobile networks brings both cost and operational efficiencies, as
technology strategy and accelerating the early deployment of well as speed in deploying new services and generating additional
novel and sophisticated services. This is a vital role for us, as revenue streams for the operator. The new emerging technologies
we continue with our Digital Transformation in the Kingdom of are also promising to deliver cost effective solutions in a quick
Saudi Arabia, serving the 2030 vision.” “We are very excited about and efficient manner. The signing of this MoU is in alignment
collaborating with stc and sharing our know-how of building with stc’s strategic drive for a strong digital future, while
new-generation telecommunication infrastructure,” said Mickey augmenting the Digital Transformation strategy in the Kingdom
Mikitani, Chairman and CEO of Rakuten, Inc and CEO of Rakuten of Saudi Arabia. The two companies will be making further public
Mobile, Inc. “We believe that our open architecture and advanced announcements about progress and the accomplishment of their
OpenRAN technologies will help define a new generation of joint and collaborative efforts.

18 SEP-OCT 2020