The technology will enhance Zain’s cloud offerings and brings Artificial Intelligence to the forefront
Mobile voice and data services operator Zain which operates across the Middle East and Africa has completed the first live trial in the region of Open and Virtual Radio Access Network (Open cRAN) in Kuwait. The trial was done in collaboration with network software provider Mavenir and system integrator Masiya.
“This Open cRAN trial empowers Zain with better understanding and practice experience on new technical trends for further development that will enable us to continue offering distinct mobile services to our valued customers,” said Nawaf Al Gharabally Zain Group & Zain Kuwait Chief Technology Officer.
This successful live trial in Kuwait follows Zain Group’s essential contribution to the OpenRAN support MOU in 2021 with other leading regional mobile operators driving innovation across the Middle East.
Mavenir, in partnership with Masiya, Intel and Dell, successfully deployed Mavenir Radios Units (RU), fully containerised Distributed Units (DUs) and Central Units (CUs) software on Mavenir’s Webscale Platform (MWP) acting as a CaaS / PaaS layer running on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware from Intel and Dell.
Dr Virtyt Koshi, SVP, GM EMEA, Mavenir, said: “We have deployed open interface Radio Units, fully containerised 4G and 5G RAN software functions on Kubernetes based PaaS/CaaS and COTS hardware, connected through the existing Core network. Digital cloud-based solutions with open interfaces bring an opportunity for more efficient and faster deployment, new consumer and enterprise offerings while minimising capex investment and opex in Radio networks going forward.”
The benefit of Open cRAN for Zain Group in Kuwait will be widespread, as they will receive the latest products and services at a faster time to market while using the latest mobile access networks. Moreover, this technology will enhance Zain’s cloud offerings and bring Artificial Intelligence to the forefront.
