Rakuten Symphony helped Saudi telecom tower giant Tawal deploy a multi-operator shared indoor network powered by cloud-native radio access network (RAN) technologies.
The deployment took place inside the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Jeddah. The Rakuten Symphony cloud RAN architecture can leverage shared infrastructure while maintaining full operational independence over respective networks.
The neutral-host network model is capable of supporting 5G standalone (5G SA) networks, as well as future edge compute and “AI-powered applications.”
“By enabling multiple operators to run on a single intelligent infrastructure platform, we're creating a blueprint for future indoor connectivity that reduces infrastructure costs, improves sustainability, and provides a foundation for AI-powered digital services,” Rakuten Symphony President Sharad Sriwastawa explained.
An unnamed telecom service provider integrated with the offering’s core network, with voice calls via 5G new radio (5G NR) and voice over LTE (VoLTE) standards having already taken place.
Tawal, which is controlled by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, said it plans to expand the neutral-host model concept with Rakuten Symphony and “enhance the efficiency of multi-operator indoor coverage solutions.”
“The launch of this project represents a significant step forward in advancing shared digital infrastructure solutions in the kingdom and reinforces Tawal’s role in enabling telecom operators to expand with greater efficiency and flexibility," Tawal CEO Mohammed Alhakbani said noted. "Through advanced solutions that address the requirements of today’s networks, we are also ensuring readiness for emerging technologies and evolving regulations governing indoor coverage solutions.”
Rakuten Symphony’s deployments in Saudi Arabia follow cloud-native 5G network deployments in Japan. The open tech arm of the Japanese conglomerate worked alongside Rakuten Mobile, pairing its virtualized centralized unit/distributed unit (vCU/DU) technology with an open radio access network (RAN) kit courtesy of 1Finity.
Comments