Batelco and Ericsson have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on next-generation 5G technologies and innovations as claimed by Batelco in line with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s digital economy vision.
According to Batelco’s sources, this latest MoU is part of Batelco’s efforts to empower its network capabilities to accomplish the future goals for 5G technology, in addition to aiding the development programs for new use cases that highlight the potential of 5G for consumers and enterprises.
According to Batelco’s statement, this MoU will cover the alliance on Voice over New Radio (NR) and an advanced Charging Systems that the firm claims will be enhancing Batelco’s real-time convergent charging as well as enable the introduction of new smart and innovative Internet of Things (IoT) products. It will also comprise the cloud-native 5G Core and 5G Standalone (SA) solutions that aided the Batelco and Ericsson successfully completing the first 5G SA data call in the Kingdom.
The Industry sources further explained that the Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) will also be a core area of focus for Batelco and Ericsson as they enable extended coverage and longer battery lives for ultra-low complexity devices. Batelco’s and Ericsson’s exploration of NB-IoT will propel smart city visions with features such as smart metering, air quality monitoring, and building management seen having a significant impact on smart city development.
Batelco further added that, via this collaboration, Batelco can fortify its enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) capabilities and meet the rapid growth in data traffic that comes with automation and emerging Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) applications in the country.
It will also aid Batelco in offering immersive media and cloud gaming experiences. The MoU is also set to lay the foundation for a 5G millimeter wave (mmWave) introduction which, through its higher bandwidth, higher data rates, and extended range capabilities, offers great potential for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), gaming, and industrial applications.
Mikkel Vinter, Chief Executive Officer of Batelco said: “As part of our continuous support for Bahrain’s 2030 Vision, Batelco always offers the latest and best-in-class technologies to its customers. Presently, 5G in Bahrain is at the cusp of unlocking a wide range of opportunities in line with Bahrain’s digital economy goals. In addition to the strong coverage that 5G from Ericsson provides, this MoU aims to explore ways to implement 5G technologies and reap the advanced benefits for different industries in Bahrain, by providing examples of innovative use cases. By providing technical support to major industries in the Kingdom, we look forward to contributing to the further prosperity of these industries.”
Wojciech Bajda, Vice President and Head of Gulf Council Countries at Ericsson Middle East and Africa says: “We look forward to working with Batelco and exploring 5G technologies that can unlock various growth opportunities for digital development. We are certain our collaboration will support Batelco in discovering new business models and in creating new and innovative offerings in the Kingdom. Moreover, as 5G adoption increases in the country, we remain committed to providing Batelco with necessary technical support to cater to the growing network complexity and ensure that fast and reliable connectivity is accessible across the country.”
Ericsson explained that it has partnered with Batelco in deploying the commercial non-standalone 5G network across Bahrain in 2019 and has since worked together to enhance 5G services in the country. With Ericsson’s 5G portfolio placing energy efficiency at the center stage, the collaboration will also work towards reducing network power consumption and developing solutions for smart and sustainable 5G networks.
