Parallel Wireless has won a contract from Zain to modernize its existing 2G and 3G networks in the Middle East and Africa to improve operational efficiency.
Zain CTO Hisham Allam and other members of the top management aims to fully virtualize 2G and 3G networks. Zain will utilize Parallel Wireless’ 2G/3G/4G/5G mobile architecture to ensure cost savings and improvement in operational efficiency.
Parallel Wireless’ virtualized multi-technology Open RAN solution disaggregates hardware and software to make deployments easy and affordable to install, maintain and upgrade to any future technology with:
Hisham Allam, group CTO of Zain, said virtualized Open RAN offers growth opportunities for Zain to reduce costs and drive new revenue growth.
A recent GSMA report says mobile broadband connections in the Middle East and North Africa reached parity with 2G before the end of 2016, with 3G becoming the dominant mobile technology at the end of last year.
Zain reported EBITDA of $1.7 billion with EBITDA margin of 39 percent on total revenue of $4.4 billion in 2018. Zain has 49 million mobile phone customers.
Zain Group invested $750 million in network expansion and 4G and 5G upgrades including fiber (FTTH) rollout and spectrum fees in several key markets.
Zain Group CEO, Bader Al-Kharafi said earlier: “Initiatives such as optimizing the synergies between the Group, Omantel and all operations, investments in fiber and network upgrades and opening up of our APIs across key markets are geared towards making us a more agile operator.”
Amrit Heer, head of Business Development, EME, Parallel Wireless said: “Operators on six continents have realized the cost-saving benefits that Parallel Wireless virtualized Open RAN can deliver to their networks and profit.”
