Ooredoo, Ericsson team up for Omani microwave backhaul trial

Ooredoo Oman says it is poised to begin trialling a new technology with Swedish vendor Ericsson to address the anticipated surge in consumer demand for data services. With support from the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), the pair will test ‘Microwave Solutions in E-Band (80GHz)’ technology, or microwave backhauling, across Ooredoo Oman’s recently completed nationwide fibre backbone network. ‘Ooredoo is constantly responding to changes in customer needs and providing them with the products, services and offers they want, through both mobile and fixed offerings,’ commented the operator’s Chief Technology Officer Wolfgang Wemhoff, adding: ‘Our partnership with Ericsson on this regionally important ground-breaking project will allow us to pioneer new methods and deliver exciting new possibilities to meet the fast-evolving needs of our current and future customers and businesses in all sectors across the Sultanate of Oman.’ Ericsson said it expects microwave backhaul to experience major growth and represent up to 20% of new deployments in 2020.