Nokia, Zain to offer improved broadband experience to Saudi Arabia users

Nokia and Zain Saudi Arabia are deploying Nokia's FastMile technology to provide a superior customer experience to Zain's customers.

The deployment, the first for Nokia FastMile in the Middle East and Africa region, follows a successful trial of the technology which recorded speeds of 20 Mbps; significant considering the current demands on 4G networks and provided seamless 4G macro network coverage to reach users located in a challenging environment.

Zain is deploying the technology in the western and southern region of the country and also in the cities of Jeddah and Makkah.

Interestingly, the FastMile solution will not only be deployed in the typical rural environments but more in suburban areas, where no fibre or copper network is available, using the 1800 MHz band.

"We are enthusiastic about the success of the Nokia FastMile trial and the subsequent deployment of the technology, which will help us address the problem of poor in-house coverage and provide a much-improved user experience," said Chief Technology Officer, Zain Saudi Arabia, Eng. Sultan Abdulaziz AlDeghaither.

"We look forward to working with Zain to deliver a better broadband experience. FastMile provides operators with an innovative way to re-use existing networks to meet growing broadband requirements. This deployment reinforces Zain's technology leadership, allowing it to use the latest technology solutions to meet the requirements of their customers," said head of Zain Saudi Arabia customer team at Nokia, Ali Al Jitawi.

Service providers usually struggle with in-house coverage in a 4G network. Nokia FastMile allows them to improve in-house coverage and provide ultra-fast mobile broadband speeds to end-users by cost-effectively re-using an existing macro network infrastructure.

In this case, the increase in throughput will enable Zain to build additional revenue streams by launching new and innovative services, as well as help attract new subscribers.