Nokia and STC Business on Monday signed an MoU to collaborate on the launch of the air-to-ground pilot network in Saudi Arabia.
The two companies have already conducted a successful trial of Nokia's LTE-based air-to-ground solution in a flight from Riyadh to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. This trial network is the first of its kind in MEA, after the launch of the hybrid satellite and air-to-ground European Aviation Network in February 2018, said Nokia.
Under the scope of the MoU, the two companies have identified key areas of cooperation and are working together to build a commercial strategy to better serve the interests of customers by providing them with superior in-flight connectivity. Nokia and STC will also work together on the network managed services and rollout for the air-to-ground services across the STC Group.
For the trial network, Nokia provided a fully dedicated end-to-end network, including Nokia's LTE air-to-ground radio access network, core infrastructure and applications. Nokia's professional services team deployed specialized air-to-ground sites and carried out extensive testing to ensure a successful trial. Thales, Nokia's technology partner for aviation equipment, provided the onboard equipment for the trial network.
Dr. Tarig Enaya, SVP of Enterprise Business Unit, STC
We have a longstanding relationship with Nokia, and are delighted to work with them to introduce this LTE-based in-flight technology to significantly improve the experience of the passengers.
Mohamed Abdelrehim, Head of E2E Solutioning, Nokia MEA
The air-to-ground technology will enable STC to provide new and revolutionary services for their customers and add new revenue streams. With high-speed and low-latency broadband, airline passengers will be able to communicate with their loved ones or for business without any disruption because of air travel.
