Saudi telecom operator Mobily successfully integrates 5G frequencies with Nokia

In collaboration with Nokia, Etihad Etisalat’s company “Mobily” has achieved a maximum download speed of 3.8 gigabits per second on the Standalone 5G network, with a connection based on the Carrier Aggregation process of the 5G network. This represents the fastest connection that has been tested in the Middle East and North Africa.

This is the first experiment of its kind in the Middle East and Africa, where three frequencies get integrated within the medium-range spectral band with a width of 100 MHz for each band separately, with a total of 300 MHz.

Based on a combination of Nokia AirScale base station products, the Carrier Aggregation software package, and a MediaTek 5G M80 modem that supports the Release 16 standard, the experiment was conducted.

As a result of this experiment, Mobily will be able to add 100MHz to its network. This will improve the experience of its 5G customers and pave the way for the process of merging more frequencies in the future.

Engineer Alaa Malki, Mobily chief technology officer, said: “In cooperation with Nokia, frequencies have been integrated within the mid-range spectrum for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa to achieve the fastest connection tested on the 5G network in the region”.

Mikko Lavanti, head of Mobile Networks at Nokia – MEA, said: “Together we have successfully demonstrated that 5G Carrier Aggregation plats a key role in improving 5G network coverage, capacity, and performance to meet the growing consumer and business demand for advanced mobile services. The trial is further strengthening the long-term relationship between Mobily and Nokia as well as improving the global ranking of Saudi Arabia and Mobily in providing distinctive 5G services”.

Rami Osman, MediaTek director of Business Development for MEA region said: “MediaTek has become the largest global supplier of Smartphone and 5G CPE chipsets. Our co-work here with Mobily and Nokia has focused on two objectives, first: to help the telecom operator leverage the maximum data throughput from each and every megahertz of its precious spectrum assets by implementing their required band support into our RF chipset as part of the main SOC, and second: to test and optimise our Dimensity SOC platform to work on these spectrum combinations to help Smartphone and CPE business customers.”

Read: Mobily partners with Ericsson to expand 5G industry use cases in Saudi Arabia