**Malaysia**: Maxis partners with Nokia for data centre networking solutions, while Tawal, Zain KSA, and Nokia achieve a landmark 5G mmWave trial in Riyadh. Their advancements illustrate a commitment to pioneering next-gen connectivity across Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, preparing for future tech demands.
Maxis, Nokia, Tawal, and Zain KSA are making significant headway in advancing next-generation connectivity technologies, as confirmed by several recent developments in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
In a noteworthy collaboration, Malaysian telecommunications operator Maxis has strengthened its partnership with Nokia to deliver advanced data centre networking solutions tailored for enterprises, hyperscalers, and over-the-top (OTT) players in the region. This partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, Spain, aims to equip data centre operators with automated networking capabilities utilising AI and cloud technologies. Through this collaboration, Maxis and Nokia plan to enhance operational efficiency, support AI-driven applications, and improve access to low-latency digital infrastructure. Prateek Pashine, Maxis Chief Enterprise Business Officer, remarked, “The rapid evolution of AI and cloud technologies is generating new opportunities and growth in the cloud and data centre landscape.” Kent Wong, Vice President and Head of IP Networks for Nokia Asia Pacific, added that this partnership drives Maxis towards its ambition to become a leading provider in AI, data centre, and cloud connectivity.
In another development, Nokia and Tawal, in partnership with Stc and Zain KSA, recently completed what they describe as the world’s first 5G standalone (SA) mmWave spectrum-sharing trial during the LEAP 2025 event in Riyadh. This trial, utilising 800 MHz bandwidth in the 26 GHz band, aims to facilitate efficient sharing of advanced network infrastructure among communication service providers (CSPs) and enterprises. By leveraging Nokia’s AirScale mmWave products and Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) active sharing technology, the collaboration sets a precedent for indoor and outdoor connectivity and aims to accommodate the demand for high-capacity mobile solutions in preparation for upcoming major events, including Expo 2030. The CEO of Tawal noted that this accomplishment establishes a new benchmark in connectivity.
Moreover, Nokia and Zain KSA have successfully launched Saudi Arabia’s first live Cloud RAN (Radio Access Network) site, achieving peak download speeds of 1.5 Gbps. This trial, which commenced on December 24, 2024, and concluded on January 26, 2025, employed Nokia’s 5G anyRAN solution. The live Cloud RAN site is designed to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and quicker time to market for innovative services. The Chief Technology Officer at Zain KSA stated that this initiative provides an opportunity to explore new service models, enhance network agility, and address the growing demands from both enterprise and individual consumers. Additionally, the Customer Team Head for Zain Group and Zain KSA at Nokia Mobile Networks highlighted that the fully cloud-native approach introduced through this collaboration serves as a robust platform that could accommodate future developments, including AI-RAN and Open RAN technologies.
These developments showcase the ongoing evolution of telecommunications infrastructure in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, with both countries positioning themselves as leaders in the implementation of next-generation connectivity solutions.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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