In a groundbreaking development for telecommunications in the Middle East and Africa, Nokia and du, a leading telecom and digital services provider in the UAE, have announced the deployment of the region’s first commercial 5G Standalone Cloud Radio Access Network (Cloud RAN) solution.
This achievement highlights du’s commitment to advancing the UAE’s ambitious digital transformation goals while establishing itself as a technological leader in the region.
The deployment in Abu Dhabi leverages Nokia’s innovative anyRAN approach, which combines purpose-built and cloud-native infrastructures.
This hybrid RAN strategy enhances scalability and flexibility, enabling du to meet the UAE’s evolving digital demands and support advanced applications, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and industry-specific use cases in sectors like manufacturing, energy, and logistics.
Nokia’s Virtualized Distributed and Centralized Units (vDU and vCU), running on Dell PowerEdge XR8620 servers. Red Hat OpenShift, a leading hybrid cloud platform powered by Kubernetes, for cloud-native RAN functionality.Nokia’s AirScale Massive MIMO Radios, operating on the 3.6 GHz spectrum with 5G Standalone architecture.
This innovative setup allows service providers like du to scale their networks more efficiently, deploy new services rapidly, and ensure consistency across both purpose-built and cloud-native RAN environments.
The deployment of Nokia’s Cloud RAN solution addresses the rising demand for network cloudification while maintaining compatibility with purpose-built systems. The anyRAN approach offers a seamless transition to cloud-native infrastructures, helping service providers like du optimize their networks for emerging technologies and monetization opportunities.
Saleem Alblooshi, Chief Technology Officer at du, commented:
“Our collaboration with Nokia represents a significant milestone in our mission to deliver exceptional network performance and innovative services. 5G Cloud RAN enhances network efficiency and flexibility, unlocking opportunities for transformative applications that provide real value to our customers and society.”
Mark Atkinson, Head of RAN at Nokia, emphasized the broader implications of the partnership:
“This strategic collaboration with du goes beyond infrastructure deployment.
It embodies a commitment to innovation, leveraging AI and private wireless networks to develop groundbreaking use cases. Nokia’s anyRAN approach, combined with our expertise in radio networks and partnerships with industry leaders, ensures unparalleled flexibility and scalability for operators and enterprises.”
The deployment is a testament to Nokia and du’s shared vision for leveraging 5G to create smarter, connected futures. By integrating cutting-edge technologies with robust infrastructure, this partnership is setting a new standard for network performance and innovation in the Middle East and Africa.