Saudi Arabian telecom giant, Saudi Telecom Company (STC) is phasing out its legacy 3G network, making way for more advanced technologies such as 4G and 5G. The move will allow the service provider to address their future needs and offer a higher quality of service to its customers.
Khaled Al-Dharrab, infrastructure VP, STC, said: “STC took a bold and daring decision to phase out its legacy 3G network in order to focus investment on more modern and advanced technologies such as 4G and 5G technologies. This will ensure that STC customers continue to enjoy the best possible experience with the network, as part of a comprehensive digital transformation journey.
Khaled Al-Dharrab, VP, Infrastructure – STC
“STC is a technology pioneer in the region and at a global level, and therefore, this move will cement its leadership status in the Kingdom and it will remain a dynamic role model for the operators in the region. The 4G and 5G technologies will provide an incentive for economic growth — at both the individual and enterprise level, supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.”
Mr. Al-Dharrab said the technological advancements made by STC will help in reconstructing the digital landscape of the country and will also confirm STC’s position as a “world-class digital leader providing innovative services and platforms to its customers and enabling digital transformation in the MENA region.”
STC has been at the vanguard of technological innovation in the Kingdom. It has always spent on future technologies to ensure that it meets the growing needs of its customers. Over the last decade, wireless technology has changed dramatically and it has molded the way people use telecom services and applications. Therefore, customers continue to command faster speeds and increased data volumes, which resulted in a dramatic growth in data traffic.
Work on the “3G Sunset Program” has already begun and is presumed to be achieved in less than two years. These plans are helped by a declining number of customers still handling 3G devices on the STC network. As part of this process, STC is committed to ensuring a smooth transition of all remaining 3G customers to 4G and 5G devices before the actual shutdown date in 2022.
The 3G freed spectrum will be reutilized for the new and more advanced technologies. STC has been directing investment in the 4G network over the last few years, delivering an enhanced 4G network, in terms of both coverage and quality. The company has the largest 4G customer base in the Kingdom.
STC also strives to become a pioneer in 5G technology. It has rolled out the 5G network in many parts of the Kingdom and will continue to increase its 5G footprint in the coming years.
