Page 109 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Vodafone UK Showcases 5G SA Technology at Coventry University

British mobile network operator (MNO)
Vodafone UK has announced that, one
year on from its launch of 5G services, it
has begun to showcase the next phase
of the technology. To that end, the
cellco revealed in a press release that
it had launched a new 5G standalone
(SA) network at Coventry University, in
partnership Ericsson, MediaTek, OPPO and
Qualcomm. According to Vodafone UK the
new network ‘will be used to show the true
benefits of 5G, including ultra-low latency,
guaranteed speed performance, and the
Internet of Things on a never-before-seen
scale’. Coventry University will reportedly
use the new 5G SA network to trial state-of-
the-art virtual reality learning technologies
to support training for student nurses
and allied health professionals, as part of
its ambition to be the leading university Learning Lab and National Transport with initial coverage of seven cities. Since
for 5G-enabled technology. Meanwhile, Design Centre. It claimed that this indoor then, Vodafone UK claims to have reached
to further support the university’s 5G technology will deliver fast, high-capacity a further 37 locations with the technology,
ambitions, Vodafone UK noted that it has 5G in key buildings. As previously reported while having ‘massively expanded’
also installed Ericsson’s 5G Radio Dot by CommsUpdate, Vodafone UK switched coverage in launch cities.
System in the university’s Disruptive Media on its 5G NSA network back in July 2019,

Ericsson Wins Contract in the UAE to Upgrade Thuraya’s Core Network to 5G

Ready Infrastructure

UAE based mobile satellite services leader in deploying new technologies to strengthening our partner's position and
operator, Thuraya, has signed an enable high-quality mobile broadband support them to introduce 4G and 5G
agreement with Ericsson to modernize solutions,” said Adnan Al Muhairi, deputy ready core, allowing its users to enjoy the
and upgrade its core network to a 4G chief technical officer of Thuraya. Ericsson benefits of 4G and 5G technology in the
and 5G ready infrastructure. The Swedish will also migrate the existing Thuraya future. Thuraya’s upgrade to a virtualized
tech giant will modernize and optimize users to the new platform and oversee core, will certainly provide a higher-
Thuraya's network to a virtualized core its integration with existing systems. The quality experience for end users while
that supports existing and new features operator's mobile-data users, especially streamlining their network operations,”
and services in the future. The deal will those in remote locations or areas where said Wojciech Bajda, head of Ericsson
ensure that Thuraya can continue to traffic is dense, will benefit from higher Gulf Council Countries. The upgrade will
offer its users the best possible user availability and reliability. As a result, include deployment of virtual Evolved
experience in the most efficient way. "By Thuraya can provide consumers more Packet Core Network, using network
modernizing Thuraya’s core network, flexible and easy-to-use communication functions virtualization, including Ericsson
we are looking to build its resilience services integrated with various terminals, Cloud Packet Core, Cloud Unified Data
and enhance overall performance. This which will work seamlessly when they Management and Ericsson NFVI. The
would also improve other key aspects move between different access points. By Virtual Evolved Packet Core will provide
like guaranteeing more flexible, reliable selecting Ericsson for the modernization the capacity and flexibility to cope with
and effective services. Our strategy is to of its existing mobile-core, Thuraya network evolution challenges. For the
make optimum use of existing assets and extends its existing partnership, in which network management aspects, Ericsson
invest in infrastructure upgrades so that Ericsson has been the sole vendor for its Network Manager is deployed to manage
the network is ready to accommodate circuit-switched core network. “Ericsson the virtual network functions which
Thuraya’s Next Generation System. We and Thuraya have enjoyed many years will secure the automation and provide
have a longstanding partnership with of successful cooperation, and we operational efficiency when managing the
Ericsson and acknowledge them as a are committed to support in further network.
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