Page 61 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Zain Bahrain Launches Commercial 5G Services

Pan Arabian telco, Zain Group, has revenue streams by addressing industry continue to switch on this era-defining
completed the launch of its commercial digitalization. "We continue to work technology around the world to drive the
5G operations in Bahrain. Zain Bahrain’s closely with Zain to expand the strategic Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0.,
state-of-the-art 5G network was built partnership between our companies digitalized society, and incredible new
using network equipment from Swedish and support the commercial rollout of mobile broadband experiences,” said Fadi
tech giant, Ericsson. The network will 5G across Bahrain. This announcement Pharaon, president of Ericsson Middle East
enable customers to benefit from super endorses our global leadership as we and Africa.
high-speed data, extremely low latency
and ultra-high reliability and unleashes
highly connected technologies trends such
as virtual reality, augmented reality, and
the internet of things (IoT). “Zain Bahrain's
5G launch demonstrates our continuous
commitment to investing in digitalization
and the latest technologies for the benefit
of our customers and playing our key role in
the Kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030,” said
Zain vice-chairman and group CEO, Bader
Al Kharafi. As more and more consumers
opt to adopt 5G, Zain Bahrain will continue
its dedication to transforming industries
and enhancing people’s digital lives and
explore new use cases and capture new

Zain Reaches Nationwide 5G Coverage in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian carrier Zain KSA announced education, e-payments and more, in Company (STC) had officially launched
the expansion of its 5G network to cover line with the Kingdom’s on-going digital 5G services in Saudi Arabia in June 2019.
all the Kingdom’s regions, after it has transformation towards adopting smart The company currently offers 5G services
recently included Al-Jouf and the northern technologies in order to provide a better through 100MHz of spectrum in the 3.5GHz
borders, the telco said in a release. This quality of life,” the executive said. Zain band. Meanwhile, Mobiliy selected Finnish
expansion raises the company’s 5G launched commercial 5G operations in vendor Nokia for the deployment of its 5G
network’s total coverage to 30 cities Saudi Arabia in October 2019. In the initial network in the country. Zain Group also
throughout the Kingdom. Zain KSA’s deployment phase, the telco deployed announced the launch of its commercial
CEO Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Deghaither 2,000 towers that covered an area of 5G network in Bahrain at the end of June
reaffirmed the company’s commitment to more than 20 cities across Saudi Arabia. in partnership with Swedish vendor
supporting digital transformation across Zain Saudi Arabia ended 2019 with a Ericsson. Zain Vice-Chairman and Group
all the Kingdom’s regions, in line with total of 2,600 5G towers across 26 cities CEO, Bader Al Kharafi said, “Zain Bahrain’s
Saudi Vision 2030 and in cooperation in the country. In June 2019, Nokia had 5G launch demonstrates our continuous
with the Ministry of Communications announced a three-year 5G deal with commitment to investing in digitalization
and Information Technology (MCIT) and Zain in Saudi Arabia for the deployment and the latest technologies for the benefit
the Communications and Information of the latter’s 5G infrastructure. The deal of our customers and playing our key
Technology Commission (CITC). “We stipulated the use of 2.6 GHz and 3.5 role in the Kingdom’s Economic Vision
will see considerable changes in the GHz, along with massive Multiple Input 2030.” Zain Bahrain will be expanding 5G
behavior of individuals whose capabilities Multiple Output (massive MIMO) to deliver coverage across the Kingdom throughout
will be enhanced by the accessible and enhanced network capacity, coverage, and 2020 and will continue to grow the 5G
convenient functionalities of digital improved downlink and uplink speeds. network in 2021. Zain had also launched
services, like the IoT, including the private Under the terms of the deal, Nokia said it commercial 5G services in Kuwait during
sector, which will enhance the on-going will use E-Band microwave in certain areas 2019.
digital transformation in various sectors, to allow for ultra-high-capacity backhaul
such as healthcare, digital entertainment, networks. Rival carrier Saudi Telecom

61 JUNE-JULY 2020