Zain Kuwait and Parallel Wireless Push Open RAN to New 5G Heights

Zain, Kuwait’s leading technology innovator, and Parallel Wireless®, the leading provider of Open RAN hardware-agnostic solutions, have successfully completed a groundbreaking 5G Standalone (SA) Proof of Concept (POC). The step reinforces Zain’s unwavering commitment to driving technological innovation and solidifying Kuwait’s standing as a global ICT leader.

Focused on Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), this POC demonstrated download speeds exceeding 1.3 Gbps—surpassing Zain’s rigorous performance benchmark and establishing one of the highest achievements for Open RAN technology to date.

This POC represents a major step forward in the evolution of Open RAN technology, proving its ability to meet and exceed operator expectations for performance, reliability, and scalability. The success of this POC not only validates the maturity of Open RAN but also highlights its readiness to compete with traditional RAN solutions in delivering next-generation network performance.

Parallel Wireless showcased its GreenRAN™ hardware-agnostic technology during the trial. By leveraging AMD EPYC™ CPUs, the trial achieved more than 35% energy savings, compared to legacy benchmarks; demonstrating how open hardware platforms can deliver both high performance and improved efficiency.

The POC also demonstrated seamless operation across two Kubernetes platforms—SUSE and AWS—highlighting deployment flexibility and interoperability. Additionally, the trial validated CU-DU separation based on ORAN Split Option 2, enhancing network scalability and operational efficiency.

METCO played a pivotal role in the successful execution of this groundbreaking POC with Zain. From initiating discussions to overseeing project management, METCO ensured smooth collaboration throughout the process.

Saving more than 35% of power consumption supports Zain’s sustainability strategy and contributes towards our net-zero goal by 2050. By reaching over 1.3 Gbps in download speeds for 5G SA, Zain achieves yet another impressive milestone that reaffirms its leadership position in the Kuwaiti market. We are excited about the potential of Open RAN to transform the future of 5G networks.

– Daaij Al-Oud, Chief Technology Officer, Zain Kuwait

The company’s expert team provided critical on-ground support, enabling the seamless execution of the trial and allowing Parallel Wireless to showcase its innovative Open RAN technology. This milestone reinforces METCO’s commitment to driving innovation and delivering next-generation connectivity solutions across the region.

– Bassem A. Jalil, Vice Chairman and CEO, METCO

Committed to accelerating its drive for innovation and embracing Open RAN, Zain joins a growing community of networks striving to deliver secure connectivity and optimize TCO without compromising user experience. This proof of concept demonstrates our leadership in hardware-agnostic design and highlights the real-world potential of Open RAN as a platform for innovation.

– Steve Papa, CEO and Founder, Parallel Wireless