UAE telecommunications service provider du, in collaboration with Finnish telecom gear vendor Nokia, has announced the deployment of what they term the first commercial 5G Cloud RAN (Radio Access Network) solution in the Middle East and Africa region. This significant development is aimed at addressing the increasing digital demands within the UAE, allowing for state-of-the-art use cases including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and industry-specific applications, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and logistics. This information was communicated in a joint statement released on Friday.
The commercial 5G Cloud RAN site is strategically located in Abu Dhabi and utilises Nokia's innovative anyRAN architecture. This architecture integrates virtualised Distributed Units (vDU) and Centralised Units (vCU), which are operational on Dell PowerEdge XR8620 servers. Furthermore, the deployment harnesses Red Hat OpenShift, a hybrid cloud application platform powered by Kubernetes, which will support the cloud-native RAN functions throughout the network.
The partnership is designed to enhance the agility and scalability of du's 5G network. The use of Nokia's AirScale Massive MIMO Radios, which function within the 3.6 GHz (n78) frequency band, further pushes the capabilities of the network, operating under 5G Standalone architecture.
Speaking to TelecomTalk, du's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) remarked, "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." This highlights du's commitment to incorporating advanced technologies to improve overall service offerings.
Additionally, Nokia's Head of RAN emphasised the broader implications of the partnership, stating, "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."
The hybrid model being deployed facilitates coexistence with purpose-built networks, thus offering a pathway towards fully cloud-native networks. This adaptability aligns with the growing trend of RAN cloudification, ensuring that consistent performance and comprehensive features are maintained throughout the network, as reported by Nokia.
With this deployment, du and Nokia are positioning themselves at the forefront of telecommunications innovation in the region, while simultaneously preparing for the future demands of digital transformation across various industries.
Source: Noah Wire Services