Saudi Arabia’s stc group and Huawei have announced the world’s first commercial deployment of the MB² microwave solution across the Kingdom. The deployment marks a new milestone in microwave transmission technology. It is designed to support growing 5G network demands while reducing infrastructure complexity.

The MB² microwave solution uses a single antenna that covers eight frequency bands, from 13 GHz to 38 GHz. It also supports up to 10 concurrent microwave beams. As a result, operators can reduce antenna count by as much as 90%.

The deployment comes as Saudi Arabia continues to expand its 5G network. Consequently, the density of base stations and mobile data traffic has increased significantly. stc required a solution that could transport more data and connect multiple transmission directions without increasing site complexity. The MB² microwave solution was developed to address these requirements.

The solution enables a single antenna to support up to 10 microwave transmission directions. It operates across eight frequency bands, including 13 GHz, 15 GHz, 18 GHz, 23 GHz, 26 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz, and 38 GHz. This provides greater flexibility than conventional microwave antennas.

In addition, the solution reduces antenna requirements by up to 90%. This helps save tower space, lowers structural load, and reduces site rental costs. It also simplifies deployment by minimizing antenna installation and alignment work, while improving the total cost of ownership (TCO).

The first commercial deployment in Saudi Arabia was initially configured with three transmission directions. After the first microwave link was established, the second and third links were each completed in only 20 minutes. Conventional microwave deployments typically require around three hours for each additional link.

Furthermore, all deployed links maintained stable performance under challenging environmental conditions. These included temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius and strong winds. If additional capacity is required in the future, up to 10 transmission directions can be activated without installing extra antennas. This makes the solution suitable for densely connected 5G sites.

The deployment also strengthens the long-standing strategic partnership between stc group and Huawei. By leveraging advanced network technologies, both companies aim to accelerate network modernization and support future digital service innovation. As Saudi Arabia continues expanding its digital infrastructure, the MB² microwave solution is expected to improve network efficiency while simplifying 5G site deployment.

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