Nokia and STC successfully test O-RAN-based 5G private wireless network using Microsoft Azure Operator Nexus

Nokia and Saudi Arabia's stc have successfully tested 5G private wireless network based on cloud-native O-RAN technology. The trial, hosted on Microsoft Azure Operator Nexus, marks a significant milestone in the operator's journey to realize its 'dare strategy' by offering unparalleled digital services fostering new ways of working, accelerating performance, and expanding scale and scope.

The trial was performed in an over-the-air environment using Nokia's O-RAN 7-2x Compliant Radios and virtual Distributed/Centralized Units (vDU/vCU) running on Azure Operator Nexus hosted on the HPE ProLiant DL110 Gen11 server with In-Line L1 acceleration. The trial demonstrated an augmented reality (AR) use case for industrial applications, showing the potential and versatility of the jointly developed solution.

Commenting on this milestone, Mark Atkinson, Head of RAN at Nokia, said, "We are delighted to be part of this ground-breaking initiative that brings together the best of our technologies and expertise. The successful trial of the O-RAN-based 5G Private Wireless Network over Microsoft Azure showcases the potential of open and scalable networks combined with cloud capabilities. This achievement is a significant step forward in enabling enterprises to unlock the benefits of private wireless networks and embrace digital transformation."

The partnership aims to revolutionize the way private wireless networks are deployed and managed by enterprises. By leveraging the architecture and principles of O-RAN, stc intends to improve the connectivity, performance, and agility of enterprise networks, catering to different industries and organizations.

"We are pleased to be working with stc and Nokia to deliver the O-RAN based 5G Private Wireless Network using Microsoft Azure Operator Nexus. This milestone demonstrates the power of combining cloud computing and advanced wireless technologies to drive innovation and empower businesses. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with stc and Nokia to help enterprises across various sectors harness the full potential of 5G and the cloud," said Shawn Hakl, VP, 5G Strategy, Azure for Operators at Microsoft.