A1 and ZTE Corporation have launched a 5G Stand Alone (SA) network in Belarus in test mode.
It signifies the first full-fledged 5G network in Belarus constructed in standalone architecture. The high-speed network, under the 3.5 GHz spectrum bandwidth, features a great support of a variety of applications, such as Gigabit without Fibre Connectivity, Cloud XR, Ultra HD live broadcast, automatic driving and remote surgery.
On its first 5G SA test network, A1 has also completed Belarus’s first call in a new standard format, by virtue of VoNR (Voice over New Radio) technology for 5G packet voice transmission.
Commenting on the development, Christian Laqué, senior director for technology, A1 said: “The path of A1 to the deployment of fifth-generation communications began in 2016 with the launch of the world’s first fully virtual mobile core network together with ZTE.
“Then, we were the first in Belarus to implement such innovative solutions as NB-IoT, eSIM, VoLTE, VoWiFi, thereby laying a solid foundation for the future development of 5G”.
Wei Wei, general manager of ZTE LLC (Belarus), added: “We are pleased that A1, one of our long-term partners, has become the first operator in Belarus to launch a 5G SA network. 5G SA architecture allows improving network bandwidth while adapting to various innovative services.
“Moreover, ZTE and A1 will soon launch a joint 5G laboratory in the industrial park Great Stone, where we plan to test network equipment and applications for vertical industries”.
