Nokia and du Deploy First Commercial 5G Cloud RAN Solution in Middle East and Africa
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Nokia and du deploy first commercial Cloud RAN solution in Middle East and Africa with Red Hat OpenShift By Investing.com
Press Release Nokia and du deploy first commercial Cloud RAN solution in Middle East and Africa with Red Hat OpenShift 6 December 2024 Espoo, Finland " Nokia and du, a leading telecom and digital services provider, today announced that they have deployed the first commercial 5G Cloud RAN solution in the Middle East and Africa region. The partnership highlights du's hybrid RAN strategy that leverages both purpose-built and cloud-native infrastructures for greater flexibility and scalability. The deployment supports the UAE's evolving digital requirements as well as advanced use cases, including AI, machine learning, and industry-specific applications in manufacturing, energy, and logistics. The commercial 5G Cloud RAN site deployed in Abu Dhabi based on Nokia's flexible anyRAN approach included Nokia's virtualized Distributed Units (vDU) and Centralized Units (vCU) running on Dell (NYSE:DELL) PowerEdge XR8620 servers, and Red Hat OpenShift, the industry's leading hybrid cloud application platform powered by Kubernetes, to support cloud-native RAN functions across the network. By integrating with Red Hat OpenShift, service providers such as du have the option to better scale their 5G network footprint and quickly introduce new services. They also utilized Nokia's AirScale Massive MIMO Radios operating in the 3.6 GHz (n78) spectrum frequency, using 5G Standalone architecture. Nokia's commercial Cloud RAN solution can co-exist with purpose-built networks in hybrid environments and evolve to full cloud-native networks, supporting the rising demand for RAN cloudification. Common Nokia RAN software ensures feature and performance consistency of Cloud RAN and purpose-built RAN across the entire commercial footprint. This milestone provides further evidence of Nokia's flexible anyRAN approach being the best choice providing strategic options for service providers and enterprises for their RAN evolution with purpose-built, hybrid, or Cloud RAN solutions, enabling customers to monetize their networks. Saleem Alblooshi, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of du, said: Our collaboration with Nokia represents a major leap forward in du's mission to deliver exceptional network performance and innovative services. Leveraging 5G Cloud RAN will not only enhance our network's efficiency and flexibility but also enable us to explore new opportunities and services that can deliver genuine value to our customers and society at large. Mark Atkinson, Head of RAN at Nokia, said: This strategic partnership with du is much more than an infrastructure deployment. Both companies are committed to driving innovation by developing pioneering use cases that leverage the transformative power of AI and private wireless networks. Under our anyRAN approach, we bring together Nokia's expertise, trusted performance, and innovation in radio networks with best-in-class partner solutions to offer true flexibility and scalability to operators and enterprises. This collaboration will enable the development of innovative services that empower businesses and individuals alike. Resources Webpage: Nokia Cloud RAN Product page: Nokia anyRAN Product page: Nokia AirScale Baseband Event: Triangulates " Collaboration for Cloud RAN success Whitepaper: Cloud RAN: Unlocking the power of 5G for a smarter, connected future Blog: Nokia and Dell pave the path to Cloud RAN for CSPs and enterprises Blog: Nokia and HPE deliver future-proof Cloud RAN solutions Blog: Nokia and partners are driving the fusion of AI, Cloud and RAN About Nokia At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today " and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. Red Hat, the Red Hat logo and OpenShift are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries.
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Du Deploys Commercial 5G Cloud RAN Solution in Abu Dhabi
Focused on AI, machine learning, and applications in manufacturing, energy, and logistics. UAE telecommunications service provider du and Finland's telecom gear vendor Nokia have deployed what the companies call the first commercial 5G Cloud RAN (Radio Access Network) solution in the Middle East and Africa region. This deployment aligns with du's hybrid RAN strategy, which combines cloud-native and purpose-built infrastructures to enhance flexibility and scalability. The deployment aims to meet the UAE's growing digital needs, enabling advanced use cases like AI, machine learning, and industry-specific applications in manufacturing, energy, and logistics, the companies said in a statement on Friday. Also Read: Du Completes Live Transport Network Slicing Trial in UAE with Nokia The commercial 5G Cloud RAN site, deployed in Abu Dhabi, leverages Nokia's anyRAN architecture, integrating virtualised Distributed Units (vDU) and Centralised Units (vCU) running on Dell PowerEdge XR8620 servers, as well as Red Hat OpenShift, a hybrid cloud application platform powered by Kubernetes, to support cloud-native RAN functions across the network. This setup allows du to scale its 5G network quickly and introduce new services, with Nokia's AirScale Massive MIMO Radios operating in the 3.6 GHz (n78) frequency band, using 5G Standalone architecture. Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of du said: "Leveraging 5G Cloud RAN will not only enhance our network's efficiency and flexibility but also enable us to explore new opportunities and services that can deliver genuine value to our customers and society at large." Nokia's Head of RAN added: "This strategic partnership with du is much more than an infrastructure deployment. Both companies are committed to driving innovation by developing pioneering use cases that leverage the transformative power of AI and private wireless networks." Also Read: Du Inks Agreement to Expand 5G Network in UAE The hybrid model solution enables co-existence with purpose-built networks while offering a path to fully cloud-native networks. This flexibility supports the growing trend of RAN cloudification, ensuring consistent performance and features across the network, according to Nokia.
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Nokia and du have deployed the first commercial 5G Cloud RAN solution in the Middle East and Africa, leveraging AI and machine learning capabilities to support advanced use cases in manufacturing, energy, and logistics.
Nokia and du Pioneer 5G Cloud RAN in Middle East and Africa
In a significant technological advancement, Nokia and du, a leading telecom provider in the UAE, have successfully deployed the first commercial 5G Cloud Radio Access Network (RAN) solution in the Middle East and Africa region 12. This groundbreaking implementation, situated in Abu Dhabi, marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of telecommunications infrastructure in the area.
Innovative Hybrid RAN Strategy
The deployment aligns with du's hybrid RAN strategy, which ingeniously combines cloud-native and purpose-built infrastructures. This approach is designed to enhance network flexibility and scalability, addressing the UAE's rapidly evolving digital requirements 1. By leveraging both cloud-based and traditional network architectures, du is positioning itself at the forefront of telecom innovation.
Technical Specifications and Partnerships
The 5G Cloud RAN solution incorporates several cutting-edge technologies:
- Nokia's anyRAN approach, featuring virtualized Distributed Units (vDU) and Centralized Units (vCU)
- Dell PowerEdge XR8620 servers
- Red Hat OpenShift, a hybrid cloud application platform powered by Kubernetes
- Nokia's AirScale Massive MIMO Radios operating in the 3.6 GHz (n78) spectrum frequency
- 5G Standalone architecture 12
This technical ensemble allows for seamless integration of cloud-native RAN functions across the network, enabling rapid scaling and service introduction.
Implications for Advanced Technologies
The deployment is not merely an infrastructure upgrade; it's a gateway to advanced use cases leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning, and industry-specific applications. Key sectors poised to benefit include:
These industries stand to gain from enhanced connectivity, lower latency, and increased data processing capabilities at the network edge.
Strategic Importance and Future Outlook
Saleem Alblooshi, CTO of du, emphasized the strategic importance of this deployment, stating, "Leveraging 5G Cloud RAN will not only enhance our network's efficiency and flexibility but also enable us to explore new opportunities and services that can deliver genuine value to our customers and society at large" 2.
Mark Atkinson, Head of RAN at Nokia, highlighted the partnership's broader implications: "This strategic partnership with du is much more than an infrastructure deployment. Both companies are committed to driving innovation by developing pioneering use cases that leverage the transformative power of AI and private wireless networks" 1.
The solution's ability to co-exist with purpose-built networks in hybrid environments provides a clear evolution path towards fully cloud-native networks. This flexibility is crucial in supporting the growing trend of RAN cloudification while ensuring consistent performance and features across the network 12.
As the first of its kind in the region, this deployment sets a precedent for other telecom providers and positions the UAE as a leader in 5G innovation. The successful implementation of this advanced network architecture paves the way for future developments in smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and other emerging technologies that rely on high-speed, low-latency communications.
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