Touch Trials Lebanon’s First 5G Tech at Beirut HQ
touch, the leading mobile telecommunications and data operator in Lebanon, managed by Zain Group, has performed the first commercial 5G trial in Lebanon using Huawei equipment at an event held under the auspices of the Prime Minister Designate Saad Hariri represented by the Caretaker Minister of Telecommunications Jamal Jarrah. This trial showcased the real 5G experience that customers will have once it is deployed in the country and 5G-enabled devices become available.
The trial was showcased indoors at the Grand Serail in the presence of ministers, ambassadors, academic and economic experts, as well as the media, and was conducted over C-band frequencies, which are the same that commercial 5G services will be delivered over in the coming years.
Notably, during the trial, touch Chief Executive Officer Emre Gurkan announced that the first commercial 5G site in Lebanon will be installed at Touch’s new location in downtown Beirut. This state-of-the-art 5G site will act as an incubator for and bolster the country’s digital startup ecosystem, aiming to have a significant trickle-down effect by enabling a range of new innovators to deliver compelling services.
The 5G demonstration comprised the successful conclusion that throughput speeds of approximately 1.5 Gbps were being achieved. Touch demonstrated Cloud VR that operated over the 5G network while also showcasing the network’s ability to undertake 16 channels of high-quality 4K video playing simultaneously.
Minister Jarrah addressed the audience at the Grand Serail and said:
“At the Ministry of Telecommunications, we are determined to modernize the existing infrastructure to accommodate the latest technology advancements. So we began to deploy fiber optics across Lebanon, to benefit the Lebanese citizens with modern technology, in addition to expanding mobile networks to keep up with developments.”
He continued,
“We are now in the 4G phase, and very soon, with the rapid technological advancement, we will enter the 5G world, which will lead to significant progress in the economy, ranging from industries within the trade, tourism, agriculture, medicine, and education sectors.”
Jarrah pointed out that “touch’s 5G trial is the first, and most importantly, it will soon be available commercially to industries, institutions, and governments alike. Simultaneously, this new technology will contribute to providing numerous jobs to the youth”.
Commenting on the successful 5G trial, touch CEO Emre Gurkan said,
“This is a momentous milestone for touch given our stated goal to innovate for the betterment of the customers we serve and to improve the quality of life for all in Lebanon. This trial gives a fantastic preview of the truly awesome power this technology possesses and the incredible services and applications it will drive.”
Gurkan continued,
“I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Prime Minister, His Excellency Saad Hariri, and His Excellency Minister of Telecommunications Jamal Jarrah for their role in driving technology innovation in Lebanon forward. Together, we shall make 5G technology a commercial reality to the benefit of government entities, private businesses, and individuals alike.”
This groundbreaking trial forms part of touch’s progressive 5G implementation, which has seen the operator invest in the necessary infrastructure with the view to deploying live 5G sites in 2019 onwards. The technology is expected to be a profound development for the telecom industry globally, bringing new business models and opportunities to industry sectors such as agriculture, heavy industry, tourism, automotive, medical, remote management, audiovisual, and public sectors, to name a few.
5G technology is set to catalyze telcos becoming real enablers of sophisticated, compelling country-wide mobile broadband services through the establishment of a rich ecosystem of devices supporting remote machine management, measurement, control, automation, execution, and video transmission.
Touch’s 5G commercial trial is part of the company’s continuous efforts to enhance and modernize the existing network to be ready for 5G commercial deployment in the near future.
5G technology is application/service-led and will be launched for specific corporate customers first. As such, touch will work closely with private companies and the public sector to understand their respective requirements and tailor services to them accordingly.
Commercial deployment of 5G networks in Lebanon is expected to contribute significantly to the country’s economic activity, creating thousands of new jobs including cybersecurity professionals, network technicians, and engineers.
touch currently benefits from the expertise of Zain Group in the area of 5G, given that several of its operating companies are planning to launch 5G in due course and are innovating accordingly. Zain has successfully tested 5G technology in Kuwait, achieving maximum throughput speeds of over 70 Giga Bit seconds (Gbps) over the 2GHz spectrum. This speed represents one of the highest ever recorded in the region, placing Zain at the forefront of 5G innovation for the benefit of its consumer and enterprise customers.
