Stc Group Sets Benchmark With First 4G/5G Open RAN Network In Middle East & Africa

In a significant move for the telecommunications sector, the stc Group, a leading Saudi telecommunications company, has initiated the commercial 4G/5G Open RAN project through "Solutions by stc." This initiative positions stc as the first operator in the Middle East and Africa to adopt this innovative technology. The project, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, is set to revolutionize digital infrastructure by embracing new technologies.

The Open RAN project signifies a pivotal shift towards an open, virtualized network infrastructure, incorporating AI/ML-based automation. It aims to transform the network through a fully multi-vendor, interoperable, cloud-native approach, ensuring centralized orchestration of the Radio Access Network (RAN). This transformation is expected to improve network performance, enable new use cases, ensure scalability, and provide real-time services.

Aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals, this project underscores stc's dedication to leading Open RAN technological advancements in the region. The journey towards adopting Open RAN began with a feasibility study in 2020, followed by successful 4G/5G O-RAN trials during 2021-22. An RFI and RFP process was conducted to evaluate various Open RAN solutions and define the project's commercial scope.

The deployment will see a multi-carrier 4G and 5G network utilizing the 7-2X split architecture in an urban area near Riyadh. stc is set to collaborate with industry giants such as Mavenir, Juniper, Dell, RedHat, and Cisco to establish new EDGE Data Centers and deploy an advanced automation layer. Additionally, an ORAN Testing Lab will facilitate testing and experimentation of new services while validating interoperability, automation platforms, and applications.

Eng. Haithem Alfaraj, GCTO of stc Group, shared his enthusiasm for the project. He highlighted stc's longstanding commitment to embracing innovative technologies and innovations. Eng. Alfaraj emphasized the importance of nurturing a multi-vendor RAN ecosystem and fostering innovation and automation within the mobile network domain. This technological advancement is in line with stc's strategic vision for a digital future and its commitment to providing state-of-the-art infrastructure and innovation.

This groundbreaking initiative not only demonstrates stc's leadership in technological innovation but also supports Saudi Arabia's broader objectives for digital transformation and infrastructure development. As the project progresses, it promises to set new standards for network performance and service delivery in the region.

With inputs from SPA