Nokia and du, a telecom and digital services provider in the UAE, have launched the region’s first commercial 5G Standalone Cloud RAN solution. The deployment in Abu Dhabi integrates Nokia’s anyRAN architecture with cloud-native infrastructure to support advanced applications such as AI, machine learning, and industry-specific solutions for manufacturing, energy, and logistics. This marks a significant step in du’s hybrid RAN strategy and supports the UAE’s digital transformation agenda.
The deployment includes Nokia’s virtualized Distributed Units (vDU) and Centralized Units (vCU) running on Dell PowerEdge XR8620 servers and Red Hat OpenShift, a Kubernetes-based hybrid cloud platform. These components enable flexible scaling and rapid service introduction while maintaining feature consistency across cloud-native and purpose-built RANs. Nokia’s AirScale Massive MIMO Radios, operating on the 3.6 GHz (n78) spectrum, further enhance performance within a 5G Standalone architecture.
This milestone reinforces the scalability and flexibility of Nokia’s anyRAN approach, which supports hybrid and full cloud-native networks. It allows service providers to adapt to rising RAN cloudification demands and explore new opportunities for network monetization. The collaboration between Nokia and du promises to deliver innovative use cases that leverage AI and private wireless technologies, driving new business opportunities.
Key Points
• Deployment Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Technology: Nokia’s anyRAN with virtualized Distributed and Centralized Units, Dell servers, Red Hat OpenShift, and AirScale Massive MIMO Radios
• Spectrum: 3.6 GHz (n78)
• Applications: AI, machine learning, manufacturing, energy, logistics
• Network Type: 5G Standalone Cloud RAN
• Benefits: Flexibility, scalability, and enhanced network efficiency
“Our collaboration with Nokia represents a major leap forward in du’s mission to deliver exceptional network performance and innovative services. Leveraging 5G Cloud RAN will not only enhance our network’s efficiency and flexibility but also enable us to explore new opportunities and services that can deliver genuine value to our customers and society at large.” – Saleem Alblooshi, CTO of du
