Muscat – Omantel on Tuesday announced the completion of a 5G mmWave proof of concept (POC) trial for extended range under the supervision by Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). This trial, which concluded recently with Ericsson will enable the company to extend the coverage of 5G mmWave to longer distances.

In a press release, Sheikh Talal al Mamari, Omantel’s CEO said, “We have always worked in Omantel to bringing the best and latest technologies to Oman which help in facilitating the way local and resident international companies and organisations to excel in the way they do business. In every step we take, we are trying to help in making the life of the people in Oman easier, simpler and more entertaining. We have enjoyed a long and successful partnership with Ericsson, and we add these latest trials to our many milestones of achievement. This trial is the first of its kind in the Middle East, yet it is the next step for us to provide an even richer 5G experience to our customers. This is a major milestone that Omantel will add to its achievement and its journey towards excellence.”

Abdullah al Balushi, country manager of Ericsson Oman, said, “This trial demonstrates how 5G mmWave technology can be leveraged to offer fiber like experience at larger distance, even in rural areas of Oman. 5G Macro deployment complemented with mmWave extended range will help Omantel meet the opportunity to develop and deploy 5G networks that can handle the increase in traffic and deliver the user experience they expect for consumers and business across the sultanate.”

Through this trial, Omantel and Ericsson have showcased how increased bandwidth can help to deliver faster, higher-quality video, and multimedia content and services at larger distances using mmWave 5G, and the successful test paves the way for enhanced 5G capabilities for consumers and businesses across the sultanate.