Highlights:

• Companies to collaborate on driving next-generation cloud native, virtualized, and O-RAN compliant 5G infrastructure solutions.
• The 5G Open RAN infrastructure solutions will be powered by the Qualcomm® X100 5G RAN Accelerator Card and high-performance Massive MIMO Qualcomm® QRU100 5G RAN Platform.

During LEAP 2023, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Zain KSA announced an expanded collaboration to drive cloud-native, virtualized and O-RAN compliant 5G infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration will focus on 5G networks of the future using Open RAN technology and make cellular infrastructure more innovative, competitive, and cost-efficient.

Qualcomm Technologies and Zain KSA will leverage Qualcomm Technologies’ industry-leading solutions, including the Qualcomm X100 5G RAN Accelerator Card and Qualcomm QRU100 5G RAN Platform, to ultimately accelerate the development of high-performance massive MIMO solutions, advance the cellular ecosystem, and push forward the innovation cycle.

“We’re excited to partner with Zain KSA to bring the power of our 5G technology to cloud-native, O-RAN compliant networks,” said Durga Malladi, senior vice president and general manager, cellular modems and infrastructure, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “With the Qualcomm X100 5G RAN Accelerator Card and Qualcomm QRU100 5G RAN Platform, we are helping to lower total cost of ownership and streamline 5G deployment to push the transition toward modern networks.”

“Zain KSA is pleased to collaborate with Qualcomm Technologies to drive the next-generation of 5G infrastructure,” said Eng. Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Deghaither, chief executive officer, Zain KSA. “By combining our expertise in building high-capacity, large-scale networks with Qualcomm Technologies’ cutting-edge infrastructure solutions, we are able to provide our customers with the best possible 5G experience.”

The Qualcomm X100 5G RAN Accelerator Card is a robust turnkey solution designed to deliver high-performance along with low latency to ease deployment and accelerate adoption of virtualized RAN platforms for operators. Additionally, the PCIe inline accelerator card boasts an upgradable architecture of L1 software to enable rapid rollout of future 3GPP release features, extend platform lifespan, and help reduce total cost of ownership. The Qualcomm QRU100 5G RAN Platform provides a high-performance, energy-efficient 5G solution designed to be O-RAN compliant, enhance coverage, improve cell-edge data speeds, as well as increase the overall capacity of the network for operators. Together, these technologies allow for more effective use of network resources, faster rollout of 5G services, and end users to fully realize the benefits of 5G.