MWC 2019: STC, Ericsson to launch 5G in Saudi Arabia
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Rebecca Hawkes
| 27 February 2019

Saudi Telecom Company (STC) and Ericsson are to launch a 5G network across Saudi Arabia, boosting mobile broadband connectivity and enabling 4K video applications, among others.

The Gulf Kingdom plans the largest 5G commercial roll-out in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with an additional 400 MHz in mid-band (3.5Ghz) spectrum being released to commercial operators in March 2019.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha said the nationwide roll-out will make over 1,000 MHz total spectrum available for cellular services, while around 10,000 5G base stations will provide Saudi consumers with MENA’s fastest and most extensive 5G coverage.

In 2018, Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia was the first city in the region to test a 5G network.

“We are excited to launch one of the fastest mid-band 5G field networks in the world. We have been working in close partnership with Ericsson on 5G for tests in the lab, field trials, and now initial deployment,” said Nasser Al Nasser, CEO, STC.

The roll out will utilise Ericsson commercial hardware and solutions including radio access network (RAN), packet core, transport, and Ericsson Network Manager.

“Our aim is to build a network that caters for current and future services. 5G is considered as a very important step toward digitalisation and connecting everything, which supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 toward economic diversification,” added Al Nasser.

Over the past 18 months, over 30 structural reforms to the telecommunications sector have been implemented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC). Driving investment, the reforms have enabled the country to triple mobile internet speeds, doubling the number of fibre optic internet connections, and ensuring 100% internet access for rural areas.

Saudi Arabia’s tech market is now the largest and the fastest growing in MENA, with a value of US$35 billion forecast by 2030.