Saudi telco, Cisco sign agreement to develop 5G networks
Saudi Telecom Company will work with tech giant to deliver ‘inclusive broadband’
Arabian Business. February 28, 2019.
Saudi Telecom Company (STC) and Cisco have announced they have signed an agreement and intend to collaborate on the development of 5G communication systems and networks in the Gulf kingdom.
The joint effort aims to facilitate STC’s transformation into a digital service provider and supports the pivotal role it plays in enabling Saudi Arabia’s 2030 Vision and National Transformation Plan, a statement said.
A memorandum of understanding was signed at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona by Nasser Al-Nasser, chief operating officer, STC, and Ali Amer, managing director, Global Service Provider Sales, Cisco Middle East and Africa.
Under the terms of the deal, Cisco intends to work closely with STC on its architectural transformation to help unlock the commercial potential of 5G mobile networks. This will enable STC to provision advanced network services, such as low-latency, and differentiate its service delivery in the 5G era.
“We are excited about the next phase of our evolution which will pave the way for massive innovation and give rise to a new breed of services that benefit the Saudi economy,” said Al-Nasser.
“Our new 5G network architecture will enable us to make the next leap forward by delivering inclusive broadband that transforms how people use technology in their daily lives.”
“As businesses increasingly digitize, mobile carriers will need the speed, low latency, reliability and dynamic provisioning capabilities that 5G networks are expected to deliver,” said Amer. “Our collaboration with STC will enable their network infrastructure to evolve into the new era of digitisation by taking advantage of the 5G momentum.”
Another key element of the collaboration aims to address the security needs of the 5G era by building a framework for threat intelligence that underpins STC’s prevention, detection and mitigation efforts, he added.