stc group has signed a multi-year agreement with Ericsson to expand its 5G network across Saudi Arabia, adding new sites, increasing capacity, extending 5G Standalone coverage and introducing Ericsson’s Radio 4496 in what the companies describe as the product’s first commercial deployment worldwide.
The agreement was announced at LEAP 2026 in Riyadh and builds on the two companies’ longstanding relationship across multiple generations of mobile technology.
Expansion includes new sites and additional capacity
The agreement covers the deployment of new network sites as well as additional capacity at existing locations.
It also includes further expansion of stc’s 5G Standalone network and preparation for differentiated connectivity services.
Deployment of the new sites is planned to begin in 2026 and continue across the duration of the multi-year agreement within Ericsson’s geographic footprint in Saudi Arabia.
The broader objective is to increase both coverage and capacity as 5G demand expands across the Kingdom.
Ericsson Radio 4496 to support 600 MHz rollout
A major component of the agreement is the commercial deployment of Ericsson Radio 4496.
According to the companies, this will be the first commercial deployment of the product globally.
The quad-band Frequency Division Duplexing radio combines four low-frequency bands into a single high-power 400-watt unit.
That includes stc group’s newly acquired 600 MHz spectrum, which is expected to play an important role in extending 5G coverage over wider geographic areas.
Low-band spectrum targets rural and indoor coverage
The use of 600 MHz spectrum is particularly relevant for extending coverage in rural and remote areas.
Lower-frequency spectrum generally provides wider propagation and stronger building penetration than higher-frequency bands, making it suitable for large-area coverage and indoor connectivity.
stc plans to combine the 600 MHz layer with its mid-band deployments to improve coverage consistency while using different parts of its spectrum portfolio for complementary purposes.
The approach is also intended to improve spectrum efficiency as the 5G network scales.
Massive MIMO and mid-band radios included
The expanded network will use a range of Ericsson Radio System products.
These include low-band radios supporting 600 MHz, Massive MIMO and mid-band radios, as well as baseband equipment and associated radio access network software and features.
That combination will allow stc to balance wide-area coverage with the higher capacity requirements typically associated with dense urban locations and areas of rising demand.
Fixed Wireless Access forms part of expansion
The agreement is also expected to strengthen stc’s Fixed Wireless Access offering.
FWA can provide fixed broadband connectivity using mobile network infrastructure and is particularly relevant in locations where fibre has not yet been deployed.
By extending 5G coverage into more areas, stc can potentially expand broadband access without relying exclusively on new fixed-line infrastructure.
The network is also expected to support connectivity requirements across sectors including logistics, energy, mining, tourism and public services.
Software subscription model extended
The agreement also extends Ericsson’s software subscription model to stc group.
This is intended to ensure that the network can receive continuous software upgrades and new features over time.
The model gives stc a route to improve performance and operational efficiency without relying solely on major hardware refresh cycles.
Longstanding stc-Ericsson relationship continues
Ericsson and stc have worked together across several generations of mobile technology, from 2G through to 5G.
Ericsson has served as one of stc’s principal radio access network suppliers and supported the operator’s original 5G launch and subsequent expansion.
Sultan S Alturki, Technology Procurement General Manager at stc group, said the latest agreement will help strengthen 5G connectivity across Saudi Arabia while extending reliable service into more areas.
Fadhel Isa, Head of Networks at Ericsson Saudi Arabia, said the agreement combines additional capacity with 600 MHz spectrum to extend connectivity across a larger share of the Kingdom.
Why this matters
The agreement is significant because it combines three priorities that are becoming increasingly important in 5G network development: wider geographic coverage, higher capacity and a stronger software-defined operating model.
The 600 MHz deployment could be particularly important for Saudi Arabia because of the country’s large geographic footprint and the need to extend high-quality mobile broadband beyond dense urban areas.
At the same time, expanding 5G Standalone infrastructure creates the technical foundation for more advanced enterprise and industrial services that depend on lower latency, network differentiation and greater control over performance.
Editor’s note
The most strategically important element of this agreement is the use of low-band 600 MHz spectrum alongside mid-band capacity.
That combination gives stc a more flexible 5G architecture, with low band handling reach and indoor coverage while mid band delivers higher throughput and capacity in denser areas.
The deployment of Ericsson Radio 4496 is also notable because it consolidates multiple low-frequency bands into a single unit, potentially reducing site complexity and power consumption. The longer-term test will be how effectively stc translates this spectrum and network expansion into measurable improvements in rural coverage, FWA adoption and differentiated 5G services.
