Nokia extends 5G strategic partnership with Zain KSA to drive smart home & offices

Finnish telecoms gear maker Nokia Wednesday sadi ti has extended its strategic 5G partnership with Saudi Arabian telco Zain KSA to deploy 60,000 FastMile 5G Gateway 3.1 across the country to support smart home and office adoption, and to enhance smart devices connectivity using 5G and WiFi 6 technologies.

“We are delighted to launch the 5G fixed wireless access devices, to ensure that homes and businesses can enjoy the fastest and most reliable broadband experience. As such, Zain KSA becomes the pioneering operator in the latest generation of telco services to deploy Nokia FastMile 5G Gateways which is another milestone added in our reliable and secure 5G network to revolutionize the way people live and work,” said Eng. AbdulRahman bin Hamad AlMufadda, Chief Technology Officer at Zain KSA.

The deployment is expected to be completed in 12 months, according to an official statement.

“We are happy to support Zain KSA, connect more people, and revolutionize the way people live and work in the Kingdom.. The combination of FastMile 5G Gateways and self-optimizing mesh Wi-Fi 6 technology means that Zain KSA is delivering a new and unmatched 5G experience to everyone, at every corner in homes and offices,” said Sandra Motley, President of Fixed Networks Division at Nokia.

In June 2019, the two companies announced a three-year deal to rollout 5G to thousands of sites using Nokia’s product portfolio, introducing 5G using 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz along with massive multiple-input multiple-output (ma-MIMO). The deal also introduced E-Band microwave in certain areas to allow for ultra-high-capacity backhaul networks.