Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Grameenphone and Rakuten Symphony are rolling out South Asia’s first Open RAN pilot, starting with 4G and 5G NSA sites in Bangladesh. The initiative is expected to pave the way for a nationwide Open RAN deployment, reinforcing Grameenphone’s strategy for a flexible, future-ready network.
Grameenphone has begun piloting Open RAN technology with Rakuten Symphony to test 4G and 5G NSA solutions ahead of a nationwide rollout in Bangladesh. Despite economic constraints, the Telenor-owned operator sees Open RAN as key to digital transformation, AI-driven growth, and enhancing its MyGP platform for millions of users.
Rakuten Symphony and Tejas Networks partner to create integrated Open RAN solutions, targeting India and international markets. The collaboration merges Rakuten’s cloud-native software with Tejas’s radio tech to meet evolving telecom demands and expand 4G/5G deployments.
Türk Telekom partners with Parallel Wireless and Net Insight to develop satellite-independent synchronisation for Open RAN, driving 6G standardisation and enhancing network security and efficiency.
Rakuten Symphony and Zain Kuwait have partnered to pilot Kuwait’s first cloud-native Open RAN deployment, utilizing advanced virtualized software to deliver 5G Standalone sites. This project marks a significant step toward network agility and scalability, supporting a wider Open RAN rollout across the Zain Group’s Middle East and North Africa operations.
Zain Kuwait and Rakuten Symphony have signed an MoU to pilot Kuwait’s first cloud-native Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN), deploying 5G Standalone sites with Rakuten’s virtualized Open RAN software. The initiative aims to boost network agility, efficiency, and scalability, marking a key step in Zain’s regional digital innovation.
Nokia and TAWAL have launched the world’s first live multi-tenant Open RAN edge-cloud platform, enabling mobile operators and enterprises to offer 5G services at lower costs. This breakthrough allows multiple service providers to share infrastructure, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs, while supporting Saudi Arabia’s smart city projects.
Nokia and Tawal have completed a live demo of a shareable multi-tenant 5G infrastructure solution, enabling operators to share 5G platforms at lower costs. The solution, showcased at LEAP 2025, reduces equipment costs, energy consumption, and capital expenditures, supporting Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation and smart city projects.
RANsemi, a British wireless semiconductor company, has partnered with Saudi Arabia’s ACES to drive 5G Open RAN innovation. Backed by the NTDP and MCIT, the collaboration aims to develop a cutting-edge 5G small cell system. The project will be showcased at the Small Cells World Summit in June 2025.
Zain and Parallel Wireless have successfully completed a 5G Standalone Proof of Concept, achieving over 1.3 Gbps download speeds, surpassing performance benchmarks. The milestone demonstrates the potential of Open RAN technology to deliver high performance, scalability, and energy efficiency, positioning Kuwait as a global ICT leader.