du launches a Standalone Private 5G Network solution based on ORAN.

du from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC) & Intel collaborate to launch a Private 5G Network for Digital Transformation of Enterprises and IoT services, enabling accelerated 5G network deployment with open-source solutions and helping faster time to market with a competitive TCO. In this collaboration, du and Intel brings a state-of-the-art blueprint for a Private 5G network based on Open RAN (ORAN) in conjunction with Dell Technologies, Radisys, and Foxconn that revolutionizes cost-effective 5G private wireless deployments for operators and observes an industry collaboration for Edge Infrastructure and applications deployment to unleash the full potential of 5G.

The blueprint end-to-end solution is powered by Intel hardware, vRAN eASIC accelerators, Ethernet, and Quick Assist technologies. Intel Smart Edge Private Wireless Experience Kit (PWEK) provides a Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) certified cloud-native framework for Private Wireless 5G deployment with vRAN workload optimization for Intel FlexRAN, resources management, and orchestration for network functions and edge services, high-speed data leveraging Intel DPDK, edge AI services optimization through Intel Distribution of OpenVINO toolkit. Radisys offers a 5G RAN Cloud-native SW stack (DU & CU) using Intel FlexRAN L1 and enabling O-RAN communication with the SD-RAN near-RT RIC. Foxconn provides O-RAN Compliant 5G O-RRU for indoor and outdoor setup. Dell Technologies is providing the edge services for this solution. Open-source components from Open Network Foundation (ONF) are enabling the near-RT RIC (from the ONF SD-RAN project) and the 5G SA Core (from the ONF SD-Core and Aether project). The integration and support of the end-to-end blueprint is provided by Vision Valley, a regional IoT leading technology services company and strategic partner of DU for their 5G and IoT Lab.

Saleem AlBlooshi, Chief Technology Officer, du

“We are very proud to see the first results of the collaboration between the Middle East Carriers together with Intel and other industry leaders. This innovation will support the development of a regional ICT ecosystem and will contribute to accelerating the digital transformation of the UAE society. After a period of intensive innovation, it is clear that we are entering a new era where open standards and open collaboration will determine the success in the businesses.”  

Renu Navale, Vice President & General Manager, Edge Platforms Division at Intel Corporation.

“The collaboration between du and Intel represents a critical step toward supporting the digital transformation of enterprises across the industry in UAE. By harnessing the combined power of 5G connectivity and edge computing with Intel hardware and Intel software, like Smart Edge and FlexRAN—the DU 5G private wireless solution will provide customers with greater agility and better business outcomes.”

Jawad J. Abbassi, Head of MENA for the GSMA

“Open architectures, including O-RAN, are an increasingly important consideration for mobile operators as they roll out the next generation of 5G networks and beyond. At the GSMA we’re playing our own role in supporting this growing ecosystem, and it’s exciting to see operators such as du working with diverse partners to help develop the potential of these solutions.”

Timon Sloane, General Manager, Open Networking Foundation

“Open source and open standards are transforming mobile and edge networking. This collaboration between DU, Intel, Radisys, and others is a shining example of how leading operators are deploying disaggregated solutions integrating best-of-breed components from both commercial vendors and from open source. By integrating ONF’s Aether, SD-Core, and SD-RAN platforms with numerous commercial components, DU has created a leading-edge private 5G + Edge solution that will allow them to deliver highly differentiated service offerings for Industry 4.0 use cases and more.”

Walid Yehia, Sr. Director and General Manager – UAE, Dell Technologies

“This is a great example of how industry collaboration can help accelerate innovation and unlock the potential of 5G and Open RAN, giving telecom providers more choice and flexibility in their network deployments. In the UAE, the diversification of 5G continues to be a priority as the country drives its ambition to become a digital economy of the future. Dell Technologies is committed to developing open, standards-based solutions through our industry alliances and bringing 5G research, development, and services to market.”

Munish Chabbra, Head of Mobility Software and Services Business - Radisys

“Radisys is excited to collaborate with DU, Intel, and other partners enabling edge and private network deployments through integration and innovation made possible in this lab. Our cloud-native protocol CU and DU software deliver 3GPP Release 16 features like URLLC, 5G IoT, and TSN support for industrial use cases. Radisys continues to work with our partners to advance 5G Open RAN deployments in enterprises and public networks.”

Housam El-Dokany, IoT & Integration General Manager – Vision Valley

“Standalone Private 5G advanced capabilities specifically the throughput, security, and low latency shall digitally transform customer operations and accelerate the delivery of advanced IoT use cases across multiple industries. Private 5G dedicated wireless networks are ideal for fault-tolerant operations, monitoring, and control of critical infrastructures delivering full control of the capacity, speed, and flow of data, and is the essential foundation and enabler to cope with rapid evolution in processing speed, the volume of data and connecting the ecosystem across IT and OT environments serving future leading technologies, robotics, automation, and internet of things (IoT).”