STC Bahrain has rolled out advanced indoor 5G solutions to improve user experience and meet the growing demand for seamless connectivity, particularly in high-traffic venues like hotels and shopping malls. This move follows a recent report by Ookla highlighting the increasing need for reliable indoor networks in premium locations.
Recognizing the impact of network congestion on customer satisfaction and business, STC focused its efforts on high-end venues such as The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain and City Centre Bahrain. These locations cater to a clientele that expects flawless 5G connectivity for activities like video conferencing, mobile payments, and augmented shopping experiences.
In 2024, STC Bahrain made a capital expenditure (Capex) of $11.93 billion, with a Capex intensity of 15.7%, supporting its strategic investment plans. To improve its indoor 5G network, STC Bahrain partnered with Ookla, utilizing its Speedtest Intelligence and Cell Analytics platforms. This collaboration enabled a data-driven approach to deployment, from identifying coverage gaps to validating network improvements.
To tackle indoor connectivity challenges, STC Bahrain adopted a three-stage approach: planning, deployment, and validation. During the planning phase, crowdsourced data from Ookla’s Speedtest platform helped identify areas with weak 5G signals, avoiding outdated models and time-consuming walk tests. A significant insight was that many users with 5G-capable devices were still connecting to 4G due to poor indoor 5G coverage.
For the deployment phase, STC Bahrain implemented Huawei’s Digital Indoor System (DIS), which provided efficient and high-performance 4G and 5G coverage in complex indoor environments without requiring significant infrastructure changes. The final validation phase confirmed the improvements, including gigabit-level 5G download speeds, ensuring better service quality for premium users.
As a result, indoor 5G connectivity at venues like The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain and City Centre Bahrain has seen substantial improvements. Ookla’s performance metrics show gigabit-level speeds are now available in these locations. The enhancements enable smooth video conferencing, high-definition streaming, and reliable IoT connectivity at The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, while City Centre Bahrain offers fast, stable connections for mobile payments and interactive shopping experiences.
This successful model has positioned STC Bahrain to expand its 5G initiative to more high-profile locations, including Marassi Mall, Exhibition Center, The Avenues Mall, and other major hotels and retail centers, ensuring future-proof connectivity for premium customers across the country.
