Batelco to launch 5G in Bahrain with Ericsson

- 5G to enhance the digital lives of people across Bahrain

- Early benefits in mobile broadband coverage and user experience

- Deal is the latest in a long and successful partnership between the companies

Ericsson has been selected by Batelco to deploy 5G commercially. The phased nationwide 5G deployment will focus on key locations.

Batelco's mission is to drive network leadership in Bahrain and provide customers with next-generation mobile technologies. The call used Ericsson Radio System solutions and 5G Cloud Packet Core. Ericsson's high-speed and low-latency 5G technology will help Batelco meet growing data traffic demands and deliver high-quality enhanced mobile broadband and fixed wireless access experiences.

5G will also enable Batelco to help open up opportunities in the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0 on a global scale to enterprises and industries in Bahrain.

The deal will see Ericsson commercial 5G equipment – including 5G New Radio (NR), mobile transport, and core – being deployed in Batelco's network. The company recently achieved Bahrain's first 3GPP-compliant 5G data call on a commercial mobile network using a 5G pocket router.

Mohamed Bubashait, CEO, Batelco Bahrain, says: "Batelco is committed to delivering exceptional customer experience through provisioning of seamless, advanced mobile services over 5G. We are therefore very pleased to strengthen our strategic partnership with Ericsson to commercially deploy 5G – to enhance our mobile network and services for people across Bahrain."

Rafiah Ibrahim, Head of Market Area Middle East & Africa at Ericsson said at the time of the announcement: "Today, we are partnering with Batelco for a 5G commercial deployment in Bahrain. 5G promises to accelerate the digitisation of industries, offering service providers with new opportunities and enabling them to launch the most advanced technologies while improving the end-user experience with higher data speeds and lower latency."

Ericsson recently enhanced its 5G Platform in February 2019 with portfolio additions across core, radio access and transport areas, as well as service orchestration. The add-ons make the platform more dynamic and flexible, enabling service providers to smoothly evolve their networks and deploy 5G at scale. In February 2019, Saudi Telecom Company (STC) and Ericsson signed a deal at Mobile World Congress 2019 to launch a mid-band 5G network in KSA.