Page 25 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2025

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

du Teams with AWS and Nokia to Deploy 5G Cloud RAN

UAE-based telco du announced at Mobile World Congress 2025 AWS Outpost servers at RAN sites. Meanwhile, AWS’s cloud con-
it is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Nokia tinuum – spanning regions and outposts – will enable the telco
to implement 5G cloud RAN technology in its network. Under the to support diverse architectures and use cases. The AWS cloud
collaboration deal, du will deploy Nokia’s Cloud RAN solution us- continuum will reach the furthest edge of the du 5G network un-
ing AWS’s cloud services to explore and develop key use cases in der a common automation, observability and security framework.
wireless networks as well as the RAN edge. Du said this will give it Du said this will ensure faster time to market for monetizing new
maximum flexibility to commercially deploy cloud RAN alongside 5G use cases. Du also plans to leverage Amazon EKS and AWS
its purpose-built network under a hybrid RAN architecture while Telco Network Builder (TNB) for scalable management and auto-
maintaining feature and performance consistency. More specifi- mation across deployment models. “5G cloud RAN will enhance
cally, the Nokia Cloud RAN architecture will be deployed using a our network's efficiency and flexibility and enable us to explore new
microservices-based cloud RAN software running on AWS cloud opportunities and services that can deliver genuine value to our
infrastructure with on-premises AWS Outposts. Du will test cen- customers and society at large,” said du CTO Saleem AlBlooshi in
tralized and distributed workload deployments using on-premises a statement.

Iraq Signs Fourth Submarine Cable Agreement

with Ooredoo

Iraq's Ministry of Communications has signed an agreement with
Qatar's Ooredoo Group for the deployment of the country's fourth
submarine cable (FIG) at the Al-Faw landing station. Minister Dr.
Hayam Al-Yasiri emphasized the strategic importance of the 24-
pair fiber-optic cable, which has a capacity of over 700 terabits and
connects seven Gulf countries across a 2,000 km route. She also
announced that additional approvals have been granted to global
telecom companies to lay new submarine cables and develop
transit projects. Iraq's existing and planned networks, including the
Route of Civilizations and the strategic Development Road transit
network, will enhance its role as a key regional communications
hub. Dr. Al-Yasiri highlighted Iraq's competitive advantages,
including shorter transit routes and simplified maintenance,
positioning the country as a secure and attractive corridor for
international telecom traffic between Europe and Asia via Al-Faw
and Turkey. She noted that Iraq's international bandwidth has
surged from 10 Gbps to 1,800 Gbps, reflecting growing investor
confidence and increased foreign interest in Iraq's telecom sector.

Ooredoo and Kloudville Launch B2B Digital Marketplace to Empower SMBs

Across MENA

Ooredoo Group has entered into a strategic partnership with This partnership marks a pivotal shift for Ooredoo, positioning
Kloudville to launch an innovative B2B digital marketplace. This new the company as a technology hub rather than merely a telecom
platform will provide customers with seamless access to a wide provider. By curating and bundling essential digital services,
array of AI-powered tools, cloud services, cybersecurity solutions, Ooredoo is empowering businesses to accelerate their transition
and enterprise software, all integrated with Ooredoo’s telecom to an AI-driven, cloud-first future. Ooredoo’s Group Chief Executive
offerings. The solution, built on Kloudville’s “Marketplace 360” Officer, Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, emphasized the shift, stating,
platform, is designed to act as a one-stop hub where businesses, “Telcos are no longer just connectivity providers. We are becoming
particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs), can digital enablers for businesses. This B2B digital marketplace
easily discover, compare, and subscribe to digital solutions offers cost-effective, scalable solutions that drive efficiency and
that are transforming how they manage essential services. growth for our business customers. By simplifying access to

25 MARCH-APRIL 2025