5G Breakthrough: Nokia, Zain KSA Launch Saudi Arabia's 1st Live Cloud RAN Site
Nokia and Zain KSA on Tuesday announced they successfully completed the first live Cloud RAN site in Saudi Arabia, a major stride that establishes the Kingdom as a leader in 5G innovation.
In a press release, Nokia and Zain KSA said that the trial, running from December 24, 2024 to January 26, 2025, utilizes Nokia's 5G anyRAN (Cloud RAN) solution. The site managed to deliver peak download speeds of 1.5 Gbps with Zain KSA's 5G core network. Cloud RAN Benefits
In the light of this, the live Cloud RAN site showcases the cloud-native architectures' ability to enhance efficiency, reduce total cost of ownership, and accelerate time to market, all of which are essential for Communications Service Providers (CSPs) and enterprise customers seeking network evolution.
Saudi Arabia's investments in cutting-edge technologies align with its national digital transformation goals under Vision 2030.
The successful trial of Cloud RAN creates an adaptable platform that can easily integrate solutions from various providers, promoting a multi-vendor ecosystem to meet fast-evolving customer needs.
Moreover, it facilitates innovative enterprise and private-wireless applications, driving rapid digital transformation across various industry sectors. Successful Collaboration
On this occasion, the Chief Technology Officer at Zain KSA, Mohammed AlNujaidi, said: 'At Zain KSA, we strive to deliver transformative digital experiences that empower our customers to thrive in a fast-evolving market.'
He also praised the collaboration with Nokia. 'Partnering with Nokia on the Kingdom's first live Cloud RAN site allows us to explore new service models, reduce ongoing network costs, and respond more quickly to our enterprise and individual consumer demands. The increased network agility will support a wide array of new use cases, underscoring our role in driving Saudi Arabia's digital transformation,' he noted.
Additionally, the Customer Team Head for Zain Group and Zain KSA at Nokia mobile networks, Mohammad AlTayeh, explained the significance of this milestone. 'This successful deployment of the Kingdom's first live Cloud RAN site is a testament to Nokia's dedication to delivering next-generation networking solutions,' he said.
AlTayeh added: 'By introducing a fully cloud-native approach, we not only match the performance of purpose-built RAN but also create a future-ready platform that supports AI-RAN, Open RAN, and even potential 6G innovations. Our collaboration with Zain KSA showcases how cloudification can optimize resources, reduce total cost of ownership, and pave the way for new growth opportunities across multiple sectors in the Kingdom.'
Short link :
Post Views: 33
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi carrier flynas to expand operations across 4 hubs, official says
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's low-cost carrier flynas is set to expand operations across its four main hubs — Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, and Dammam — as part of an ambitious growth plan, according to a top official. In an interview with Al-Eqtisadiah, Waleed Ahmed, the company's official spokesperson, said that flynas holds the largest aircraft order in the Kingdom and one of the biggest in the Middle East, with a total of 280 aircraft set to be received. This follows a major deal signed in July with Airbus to acquire 160 new aircraft — including 30 wide-body A330neo and 130 single-aisle jets across A320neo, A321neo, and A321LR models. The airline has seen a sharp rise in passenger traffic, with volumes climbing from around 11 million in 2023 to more than 14.7 million in 2024, reflecting the low-cost carrier's rapid expansion in line with Saudi Arabia's push to position itself as a leading global hub for tourism and business. 'These numbers reinforce the company's role in supporting Vision 2030, which aims to increase the number of passengers to 330 million and attract more than 150 million international passengers by that year.' Ahmed said, as quoted by Al-Eqtisadiah. He also highlighted that, as part of its ambitious strategic plan, flynas has expanded its summer schedule by launching four new destinations for the first time: Krakow in Poland, Geneva in Switzerland, Milan in Italy, and Rize in Turkiye, in addition to its usual summer routes. Last week, flynas finalized its initial public offering at SR80 ($21) per share — the top of its indicated price range — following strong demand from both institutional and retail investors. The pricing values the airline at an estimated market capitalization of SR13.6 billion at listing. The offering followed the company's announcement last month of its intention to float 30 percent of its share capital on the Saudi Exchange, making flynas the first airline in the Kingdom to go public and the first Gulf airline IPO in nearly two decades. In line with its ongoing fleet expansion, flynas recently took delivery of its fourth Airbus A320neo of 2025, bringing the total number of A320neo aircraft in its all-Airbus fleet to 57. The current fleet includes 63 aircraft — 57 A320neo, four A320ceo, and two A330neo wide-body jets.
Asharq Al-Awsat
7 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia Eyes Tourism as Key Economic Pillar by 2030
Saudi Arabia is positioning its tourism sector to rival oil as a cornerstone of the national economy by 2030, targeting a 10% contribution to GDP. This ambitious goal is part of the Kingdom's broader Vision 2030 plan to diversify income sources and reduce reliance on hydrocarbons. To achieve this goal, Saudi Arabia is developing a comprehensive tourism ecosystem. This includes mega-projects like NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea, alongside nationwide infrastructure upgrades spanning major cities, villages, and remote areas. These efforts are already bearing fruit: the Kingdom surpassed 100 million visitors well ahead of schedule, prompting an upward revision of its target to 150 million tourists by the end of the decade. Tourism revenues have surged, growing more than 148% in 2024 compared to 2019. The sector's contribution to GDP has doubled to 5%, also generating thousands of new jobs and reinforcing Saudi Arabia's presence on the global tourism map. Speaking at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb highlighted the Kingdom's rapid progress in establishing tourism as a foundational economic sector. He credited sweeping reforms, a pro-investment regulatory framework, and a robust national tourism strategy for the industry's momentum. The transformation includes major legislative and operational milestones: the rollout of a new tourism law, streamlined e-visa procedures, the establishment of training programs for Saudi talent, and the introduction of tech-driven visitor experiences. These initiatives aim to enhance both competitiveness and sustainability. Industry experts say Saudi Arabia's geographic, climatic, and cultural diversity gives it a strong edge. From the mountains of Asir and the historic sites of AlUla to the beaches of the Red Sea, the Kingdom offers varied attractions catering to a broad range of travelers. Nasser Al-Ghailan, a tourism investor and partner in Amla Tourism Group, said these natural advantages have been transformed into strategic assets. He pointed to infrastructure improvements, expanded airport capacity, and new airline routes connecting the Kingdom to the region and the world. 'Combining modern infrastructure with digital innovation and high service quality has made Saudi Arabia a rising player on the global tourism stage,' he said, noting growing interest from investors. In the Asir region, Abdullah bin Ahmed, Vice President of the Tourist Guide Club, emphasized the importance of community engagement and local workforce development. He sees tour guides as cultural ambassadors who can convey the richness of Saudi heritage to international audiences. 'People are the heart of the tourism experience. Empowering them is key to long-term success,' he said. According to the UN World Tourism Organization, Saudi Arabia led the G20 in tourism growth in 2024, with a 69% rise in international arrivals compared to 2019. With strategic investments and a clear vision, Saudi Arabia is on track to become a premier global destination, delivering unique travel experiences while maintaining a delicate balance between economic growth, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability.
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Saudi Gazette
A Saudi platform powered by AI to serve pilgrims
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — The Saudi Ministry of Interior, represented by the General Directorate of Public Security, and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) launched a smart platform powered by artificial intelligence. The platform represents a qualitative leap in integrating modern monitoring and reconnaissance technologies to support decision-makers in managing crowds and ensuring the safety of pilgrims. It relies on advanced technologies that combine remote sensing and geographic information systems to analyze satellite images with high accuracy. The smart platform represents an ambitious model for digital transformation within the goals of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, and embodies Saudi Arabia's commitment to employing the latest global technologies to serve the guests of God and ensure their security in the holy sites. It also contributes to raising the efficiency of security surveillance and survey technologies and improving field response by providing relevant authorities with comprehensive statistics and data. It also offers mechanisms for monitoring changes in surface temperatures, particularly in heat islands, in addition to detecting irregular patterns. The platform displays statistics and comparisons between data from the current season and previous seasons, contributing to future planning and the development of services provided to pilgrims and Umrah performers. Many security sectors affiliated with the General Directorate of Public Security benefit from the platform's services, across various vital sectors, during the Hajj season. This enhances coordination between various government agencies and supports an integrated response to potential challenges.
