Through this strategic partnership , du and Nokia go beyond infrastructure deployment by driving innovation and developing pioneering use cases that leverage the transformative power of AI , enterprise and private wireless networks . With a focus on RAN EDGE , a critical component of 5G Advanced networks , the collaboration will enable the development of next-generation services that empower businesses and individuals alike .

The project will progress through multiple phases , starting with comprehensive use case studies and culminating in the deployment of a comprehensive Hybrid RAN strategy . This phased approach ensures a seamless transition to a future-proof network that can adapt to evolving demands and deliver a truly transformative digital experience for du ’ s customers .

Saleem AlBlooshi , Chief Technology Officer of du said , “ Leveraging 5G Cloud RAN will not only enhance our network ’ s efficiency and flexibility but also enable us to explore new opportunities and services that can deliver genuine value to our customers and society at large .”

Mark Atkinson Senior Vice President , Head of Radio Access Networks at Nokia said , “ This strategic partnership with du is much more than an infrastructure deployment . Both companies are committed to driving innovation by developing pioneering use cases that leverage the transformative power of AI and private wireless networks .

The commercial 5G Cloud RAN site , deployed in Abu Dhabi is based on Nokia ’ s advanced anyRAN approach . This includes Nokia ’ s virtualised Distributed Unit , vDU and virtualised Central Unit , vCU , running on Dell , XR8620 servers , the RedHat OpenShift , the industry ’ s hybrid cloud application platform powered by Kubernetes , to support cloudnative RAN functions .

The solution also utilised Nokia ’ s AirScale Massive MIMO Radios operating in the 3.6 GHz , n78 spectrum frequency , using 5G Standalone architecture . du also announced a strategic partnership with Telefónica to accelerate innovation and enable mutual business growth . du joins the prestigious Telefónica Partners Programme , which connects over 65 markets across Europe , Latin America , and the Middle East and Africa .

Saleem AlBlooshi , Chief Technology Officer , du

This partnership signifies a collaborative step towards enhancing operational capabilities , exchanging best practices and expertise , and driving mutual business opportunities , leveraging the extensive knowledge and expansive reach offered by the Telefónica Partners Programme to work collaboratively on initiatives and projects that span across various operations within du . Fahad Al Hassawi , Chief Executive Officer at du , said , “ du aims to propel the UAE onto the global stage of innovation excellence in alignment with the leadership ’ s ambitious digital agenda . Our strategic partnership with Telefónica spans a broad spectrum of areas , enabling us to enhance and enrich our business and seamlessly integrate with the global digital ecosystem . It ’ s also in line with our goal to enhance the nation ’ s digital landscape and driving innovation in the UAE .” •

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