Zain has secured two prestigious global awards at the Informa 5G Core Awards ceremony in Riyadh, earning recognition for Best 5G-Advanced Service Innovation and Best 5G-Advanced Technology Breakthrough across Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The awards highlight operators and technology partners redefining what is possible in 5G Core development, deployment, and commercialization.
As part of its 4WARD – Progress with Purpose strategy, Zain has significantly expanded its investment in 5G-Advanced (5G-A), leading advancements in network technology, core intelligence, and next-generation services. In mid-2025, both Zain Kuwait and Zain KSA became among the first markets globally to commercially launch 5G-Advanced, reinforcing Kuwait and Saudi Arabia’s positions as regional and global digital infrastructure leaders.
Zain Group CTO Mohammad Al-Murshed noted that Zain’s technology enhancements are driving improved customer experiences, stronger digital transformation foundations, and broader industrial diversification. He emphasized that the company remains committed to shaping future digital infrastructure and unlocking new opportunities through intelligent connectivity.
Why Zain Kuwait Was Honored
The judging panel recognized multiple innovations, including:
- Next-generation calling network & AI translation pilot: Zain Kuwait became the first operator in the country to commercialize VoNR (Voice over New Radio), collaborating with Huawei on a plug-in-based calling network architecture. The operator also piloted Arabic intelligent translation services to help more than eight million annual visitors communicate seamlessly with the local community.
- “Call Screen Lighting” interactive service: During the 2024 Arabian Gulf Cup, Zain introduced a new feature that displayed real-time football promotional content during customer calls—an innovative convergence of sports engagement and telecom services.
- Global-first nationwide VoNR launch: Zain Kuwait became the world’s first telecom operator to deploy VoNR nationwide, offering crystal-clear uninterrupted voice calls alongside ultra-fast data without additional charges for compatible devices.
Why Zain KSA Was Recognized
Zain KSA earned distinction for its breakthrough in 5G-A Fixed-Mobile Convergence:
- Commercial rollout of 5.5G-A through Mobile Home architecture using MEC: The deployment reduced latency, bypassed public Internet limitations, and delivered high-throughput, stable connections for applications such as game streaming. This enhancement strengthens Saudi Arabia’s expanding esports and gaming ecosystem.
With these achievements, Zain Group continues to solidify its leadership in 5.5G-Advanced technologies, driving meaningful connectivity and enabling progress for individuals, enterprises, and governments across the region.
