World's first live 5G standalone roaming connection established by stc Kuwait and BICS

The connection, which showed successful roaming between the 5G SA networks of the Middle Eastern digital solutions and telecommunications provider STC Kuwait and the Belgian mobile operator Proximus, was the first of its kind to be finished in a non-lab setting, according to the businesses.

International connectivity and 5G enabler BICS has successfully established the first ever intercontinental 5G Standalone (SA) roaming link between two live networks in Europe and Middle east, marketing a significant milestone for the industry.

Geert Standaert, Chief Technology Officer at Proximus, the parent company of BICS, added: “The roaming test represents a huge watershed moment for Proximus in our 5G roll-out. Our goal is to bring next-generation experiences to our customers. 5G roaming plays a major role in delivering on that promise. We are excited to have reached this stage through our partnership with stc and BICS, and now look ahead to rolling out the opportunities of 5G Standalone for the benefits of our customers and enterprises alike.”

The connection, which showed successful roaming between the 5G SA networks of the Middle Eastern digital solutions and telecommunications provider STC Kuwait and the Belgian mobile operator Proximus, was the first of its kind to be finished in a non-lab setting, according to the businesses. It represents a turning point in the development of global 5G SA services and use cases, they added.

Mikaël Schachne, VP Telco Market at BICS, commented: “Until now, operators around the world have only been delivering 5G Non-standalone (NSA) roaming that routes traffic through 4G/LTE core. This is the first time anyone has ever carried out a successful live connection across borders using 5G Standalone. By establishing 5G SA roaming, we’ve broken down the barriers to bring the power of this technology to international communications. This is an important step for the industry, and accelerates the benefits of 5G to potential consumers and enterprises around the world.”

Secured gateways(SEPP), a next-level security protocol required by roaming regulators GSMA and which can be hosted on BICS' IPX network, were used to establish connectivity between the visited and home networks for quicker and more effective adoption and maintenance,stated BICS.

Fahad Al Ali, Chief Technology Officer at stc Kuwait, commented, “To have been a part of this breakthrough moment for 5G is something we are very proud of. stc’s mission has long been to enable digital transformation, and in establishing this first-ever 5G Standalone roaming connection we are leading the way – not just for Kuwait, but for the world. stc believes Standalone 5G will bring untold benefits that will enrich the lifestyles of both individual and corporate customers by accelerating innovation across borders through pioneering roaming solutions.”