How Nokia & stc Group Broke a Middle East Data Centre Record
Nokia and stc Group have successfully concluded the first-ever 1Tbps (terabit-per-second) long haul field trial in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.
Leveraging stc Group’s live Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) terrestrial network, the trial highlights the unique potential of Nokia’s sixth generation of super-coherent Photonic Service Engine (PSE-6s) technology in delivering high-capacity, efficient and scalable connectivity for data centres.
It also demonstrates the scalability required to support growing demands for bandwidth-intensive applications like AI, cloud services and next-generation digital innovations.
“By pushing the boundaries of optical technology, Nokia is committed to trusted performance and proud to partner with stc Group in achieving this record-breaking milestone,” comments Carlo Corti, Head of Optical Networks, Middle East and Africa at Nokia.
“Our Data Center Interconnect solution provides scalable, energy-efficient, resilient, and secure infrastructure to support Saudi Arabia’s ambitious digital transformation journey.”
Achieving a digital vision
With the ability to significantly increase the capacity of the digital network, stc Group and Nokia are enabling faster and more efficient data transmission over long distances.
With this advanced optical infrastructure, stc Group is well-positioned to meet future market demands and continue its supply of rapid and reliable connectivity while aligning with Saudi Vision 2030’s digital transformation goals.
Saudi Vision 2030, or Project 2030, refers to a government programme launched by Saudi Arabia which aims to achieve the goal of increased diversification economically, socially and culturally.
The field trial conducted by Nokia and stc transported 6 x 100GE and 1 x 400GE high-speed services over 1Tbs single wavelength across 850km. This was able to demonstrate the trusted performance and seamless integration of Nokia’s Data Center Interconnect (DCI) DWDM solution into stc Group’s data centre environments.
Designed to seamlessly fit into the data centre with advanced energy efficiency, the solution also addresses the dynamic needs of AI and cloud services and will offer consumers improved network efficiency and performance across Saudi Arabia.
Nokia advances in the data centre sector
Nokia and stc Group’s collaboration has ultimately set a new benchmark for data centre interconnectivity across the MEA region, in line with Saudi Arabia’s wider digital transformation journey.
Saudi Arabia remains eager to digitally transform its infrastructure, with plans to expand 5G coverage and promote cloud computing adoption among other Vision 2030 goals.
With this in mind, this collaboration is laying the groundwork for future-ready network infrastructure.
Abdullateef AlSenan, Infrastructure Design GM at stc Group, says: “stc Group’s partnership with Nokia demonstrates our advancements in building a future-ready network. This milestone reflects our ability to securely support massive traffic volumes, addressing the demands of cloud services and AI applications, ultimately supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives.
“These infrastructure advancements are positioning the kingdom as a global leader in digital innovation and sustainability.”
Having invested heavily in its data centre efforts in recent months, Nokia is eager to continue leading the future of networking. Towards the end of 2024, the telco was selected by Nscale to deliver an IP network solution to support AI workloads at its data centre in Norway.
The company has also partnered with the likes of Kyndryl to deliver automation and security solutions for data centre network services, which is particularly important amid rising cloud computing demands.
Nokia has also been pushing the boundaries of innovative technology in recent months, having also recently worked with Intuitive Machines to integrate Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communication System (LSCS) into the IM-2 mission lander, Athena.
Such a milestone represents a significant step towards deploying the first cellular network on the moon.
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