Etisalat has announced today its success in launching the first virtual open access network (Open vRAN) in the Middle East and North Africa, to be among the first operators in the world to achieve this great technological achievement.
Open vRAN technology improves the mobile network, due to its ability to enhance the capabilities of the digital infrastructure for wireless networks, and is supported by innovative technologies that follow the best global standards, where today's announcement comes to confirm the effectiveness of the continuous efforts made by "Etisalat" in bringing the most important technologies to a country The UAE, as one of the first operators to adopt this technology worldwide.
This success was achieved thanks to the fruitful cooperation that brought together Etisalat, its partners Altiostar, NEC and Cisco, as well as a number of other leaders of “vRAN” technology providers. This advanced technology combines the possibility of network expansion on the one hand and the activation of virtual networks on the other hand, which is done by integrating different equipment from various suppliers using commercial devices "COTS", which provides an opportunity to rely on technical software in the network instead of traditional devices.
The engineering mechanism of the virtual radio access network “vRAN” is based on separating the software elements of the “RAN” system from the traditional devices, resulting in operational flexibility and reducing the consumed energy, in addition to improving the network capacity and improving it through simplification and providing the means and algorithms of artificial intelligence.
In this context, Eng. Saeed Al Zarouni, Senior Vice President of Mobile Networks, said: “We are proud today that we are among the first operators in the world to deploy a virtual radio access network“ vRAN ”, which is in line with Etisalat’s strategy of Leading the digital future to empower societies. As, by launching this advanced technology, we continue our tireless efforts to advance the digital transformation in the UAE by employing the most important digital technologies and artificial intelligence solutions in the digital architecture of the mobile network, in line with the digital vision of the mother country Arat.