Page 58 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

SpeedChecker Issues Results of Speed Performance in Lebanon

SpeedChecker, the mobile crowdsourcing mobile devices performing 46,469 tests is increasing as part of 2020 Telecom
company released a new report on the in March 2021. Lebanese consumers Vision it is the mobile performance that
performance of mobile networks in are well-served in terms of both speed is most significant, as shown in these
Lebanon. This report is part of an ongoing and latency following the continued results. This impressive performance has
commitment from SpeedChecker to expansion of 4G. This will improve further been achieved by both Alfa and Touch in
benchmark the true user experience in when the 5G service (currently available Lebanon with each of them averaging in
the Middle East. The SpeedChecker report in Beirut airport) is expanded. Although excess of 30 Mb/s download and excellent
has been compiled using data from 16,725 fixed internet provision and performance sub-90ms latency.

stc Bahrain To Launch Camouflaged Small Cell
Solution

stc Bahrain has announced the launch of a ‘first-of-a-kind Camouflaged
Small Cell Site’ solution that will provide improved 4G and 5G network
coverage across several areas of the country. The new solution will
increase network densification in high data traffic areas such as school
campuses and business districts, thereby improving overall network
performance and capacity. The operator claims the new solution boasts
an aesthetically pleasing design that complies with regulations intended
to improve the look of radio station towers. The equipment will initially be
deployed in Bahrain Bay and areas of Manama and Hoora under phase
one of the projct, scheduled for completion by Q3 2021. Commenting on
the new project, stc Bahrain CEO Nezar Banabeela said: ‘We are pleased
to launch this new first of a kind solution in Bahrain, the deployment of
the new Camouflaged Cell Solution will enhance overall user experience
in high traffic areas. We continue to invest in our infrastructure to further
support our network’s capability and reliability to better serve our
customers with innovations that enhance their daily life.’

stc Kuwait Rolls Out Commercial 5G Standalone
Infrastructure

Kuwait telecommunications company stc Kuwait with the deployment of a new Business Support System. In a statement
has announced the commercial launch of its 5G released by the Company, stc indicated that it has been progressing with major
Stand Alone (5G SA) services. The operator has also 5G SA developments to advance its 5G network architecture, enabling the
claimed the widest scale 5G deployment coverage on radical transformation of the telecom industry into an as-a-Service model in
sub-3GHz and 2.1GHz bands amongst mobile service line with Kuwait’s 2035 vision. 5G SA technology will enable stc's subscribers
providers in the MENA region. Besides these two to enjoy higher uplink bandwidth, especially catering to specialized use
achievements, stc said it enhanced its infrastructure scenarios, such as enterprise applications where uplink throughput is equally
important as downlink, it said. "Additionally, the technology will lower user-
traffic latency to address key issues related to interruptions in the gaming
experience, while kicking off-market interest in new rich forms of gaming
technology like Virtual Reality (VR). 5G SA will also feature higher levels of
security that utilize the best industry know-how to provide robustness to
telecom networks," the press release pointed out. Further empowering Multi-
Access Edge Computing (MEC) deployment, 5G SA will enable stc to become
not only Cloud Native, but Edge Native as well, it said.

58 APRIL-MAY 2021