Etisalat by E& and Huawei recently showcased a groundbreaking achievement in the Middle East and Africa by demonstrating a unique 5G network slicing on a commercial 5G Cloud Core. This milestone holds significant importance for both companies and promises transformative advantages for the vertical industries in the United Arab Emirates. It signifies a pioneering step for Etisalat by E& towards the commercialization of Network-as-a-Service.
Network slicing involves the creation of multiple virtual networks within a shared or dedicated physical network, enabling operators to tailor network segments to meet specific customer requirements. Each network slice is configured individually with distinct security and latency settings, aligned with the diverse demands of applications in a Network-as-a-Service model. By leveraging cloud-native virtualized applications on the 5G Cloud Core, integrated with Network Orchestrator, Network Slice Management Function, and Communication Service Management Function, Etisalat by E& can efficiently allocate network resources. This empowers effective resource utilization, cost reduction, and operational efficiency.
In this successful demonstration, Etisalat by E& utilized a commercial 5G smartphone, commercial radio access network (RAN) equipment, and their established 5G standalone core. The company conducted comprehensive tests to assess the implementation of end-to-end service SLAs capabilities on a virtual network slice, ensuring the seamless functioning of various components, including device chipsets, operating systems, applications, radio network base stations, and the network core. Etisalat by E&’s cloud-based Core is accessible for devices compatible with 5G network scaling.
By integrating network capabilities, End-User Interface platforms, and a profound understanding of enterprise application connectivity requirements, Etisalat by E& aims to create a comprehensive library of Product Catalogs for various vertical industries, serving as a One-Stop Shop for connectivity services. Enterprises can benefit significantly from these catalogs, offering insights into the company’s offerings, including add-on applications and diverse business models, assisting in making informed choices.
The company is committed to rapidly expanding the availability of its commercial Slicing services network across the nation. Their growth strategy revolves around 5G mobility, nationwide broadband, mobile edge computing, and business solutions. This deployment is set to enhance network performance, ensuring unprecedented service agility, flexibility, and automated scalability, with a notable increase in 5G adoption and fixed wireless broadband momentum.
Khaled Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President of Core Networks and Platforms at Etisalat by E&, expressed their pride in partnering with Huawei to enhance their technological offerings, playing a pivotal role in the acceleration of digital transformation for countless industries moving towards cloud-based solutions. He emphasized the significance of Network-as-a-Service using Network Slicing Technologies in meeting the diverse service requirements of vertical industries.
Gavin Wang, Head of Etisalat Key Account at Huawei Technologies, highlighted the UAE’s leading role in adopting cutting-edge technology and its emergence as a global technology hub. He reaffirmed Huawei’s strong partnership with Etisalat by E& and their commitment to leveraging advanced solutions and extensive experience to facilitate Etisalat by E& in advancing its network evolution and offering a comprehensive range of premium communication services to industry customers. Huawei takes pride in contributing to the UAE’s digital economy foundation and promoting intelligent digital transformation across the region.
