July 27, 2020:  Ooredoo Qatar and Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) have successfully trialed 200MHz mid-band spectrum and achieved a record system throughput of 4.2 Gbps using the latest Ericsson Radio System products. This shows the potential of Ericsson AIR 6449 to use increased bandwidth in the network for future 5G capacity demands.

 

The new tech milestone was reached using advanced 5G and 4G data aggregation functionality to boost the data rate per user, where multiple frequency blocks are assigned to the same user. This will enable Ooredoo to offer subscribers higher speeds on their handsets, improving the experience of apps such as streaming and watching 8K videos.  

 

The deployment of new 5G mid-band spectrum will also unlock the potential for subscribers to enjoy other streaming services, remote learning, cloud gaming and AR/VR applications at a totally new level. This will also open up opportunities for service providers to tap new revenue streams and drive efficiencies in areas such as smart cities, healthcare and logistics.

 

Ooredoo has achieved this significant downlink throughput which will pave the way for seamless roll-out of the latest mobile technology offering enhanced network performance. 

 

After a successful deployment of Ericsson Spectrum Sharing, which enabled swift deployment and a smooth evolution towards nationwide 5G coverage, Ooredoo is now shifting to next gear by further improving user experience with higher speeds and capacity services in preparation for the upcoming major international sporting event in 2022. 

 

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani, CEO at Ooredoo Qatar, says: “5G is a phenomenal evolution that opens doors to a world of new possibilities, many of which we have already tested – and we are proud to be at the forefront of the 5G revolution among global telecoms operators. Keeping our customers connected and enabling them to enjoy the best of the internet is at the core of what we do, and this partnership with Ericsson will enable us to achieve our strategic goals in network development and expansion. 

 

“We are making use of the latest innovative technology to apply 5G in existing frequency bands and deploying the latest 5G radios to shift our subscriber experience to a whole new level; with the addition of 5G, we are committed to offering Qatar the best mobile digital infrastructure, which will result in enhanced user experience ahead of major world sporting events set to be held in Qatar.”

 

The 5G milestone is a continuation of a long-standing partnership in which Ericsson delivers the latest mobile network technology to Ooredoo Qatar. Ooredoo has become one of the pioneers in the region’s 5G space by enhancing its networks to provide high capacity and speeds as the device ecosystem becomes more mature.

 

Fadi Pharaon, President of Ericsson Middle East & Africa, says: “We are pleased to be working with our long-standing partner Ooredoo helping them achieve the full potential of 5G. Today’s trial cements Ooredoo’s commitment to bring the latest technology and prepares their network for the new era of 5G use cases. This announcement highlights Ericsson’s 5G leadership enabling wider opportunities, innovative solutions, and applications that 5G will bring.”

 

With faster speeds, lower latency and better performance in highly dense areas and increased traffic expected during the large international sports event hosted in Qatar, 5G represents an evolution of the user experience. It will also enable new device-to-device and machine-to-machine (M2M) applications that will impact both consumers in use cases such as traffic safety control, tactile internet – and industry, for example sensors or capillary networks.

 

Ericsson currently has 99 commercial 5G agreements and contracts with unique operators, of which 57 are publicly announced 5G deals, including 55 live 5G networks on five continents.