Nokia and du launch groundbreaking Cloud RAN solution in the UAE

On December 6, 2024, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Nokia and du announced a significant technological advancement by deploying the first commercial 5G Cloud RAN solution in the Middle East and Africa. This partnership showcases du's hybrid RAN strategy, which utilizes both cloud-native and purpose-built infrastructures to enhance flexibility and scalability while addressing the evolving digital requirements of the UAE. The deployment is expected to support advanced applications involving artificial intelligence, machine learning, and sector-specific applications in industries such as manufacturing and logistics. The commercial implementation at the Abu Dhabi site incorporates Nokia's virtualized Distributed Units (vDU) and Centralized Units (vCU), which are powered by Dell's PowerEdge XR8620 servers and Red Hat OpenShift. This hybrid cloud application platform, built on Kubernetes, enables service providers like du to effectively scale their 5G network footprint while expediting the launch of new services. The integration of Nokia's AirScale Massive MIMO Radios, operating in the 3.6 GHz spectrum frequency, further enhances network performance using a 5G Standalone architecture. One of the key aspects of this deployment is Nokia's anyRAN approach, which allows for the coexistence of Cloud RAN and purpose-built networks in a hybrid environment. This strategy is focused on fulfilling the growing demand for RAN cloudification while ensuring feature and performance consistency across the commercial network. The deployment symbolizes the strong alignment between Nokia's technical expertise and du's commitment to delivering cutting-edge network performance that aligns with the UAE's ambitious digital transformation agenda. The officials from both companies have expressed strong enthusiasm about this collaboration. Saleem Alblooshi, Chief Technology Officer of du, emphasized the importance of this project in elevating network performance and exploring new avenues for innovative services that yield significant value for customers and the community. Mark Atkinson, Head of RAN at Nokia, elaborated on the partnership's intentions beyond infrastructure deployment, as both entities aim to drive innovative applications that leverage the transformative capabilities of AI and private wireless networks. Such initiatives are strategic for the evolving digital landscape and promise substantial advancements in telecommunication capabilities across the region.