TETRA and LTE to roll out in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Telecom subsidiary Bravo is increasing the strength of the region’s mission-critical communications market with a huge investment in upgrading its network in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the latest TETRA and LTE technology.

Bravo serves more than 300,000 subscribers for more than 3000 customers. Its current network is based on a proprietary technology, but the replacement program will fit in with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which is about optimisation, digitisation of different verticals and enhancing public–private partnerships.

A new mission-critical TETRA network is planned for completion by 2019. Complementary mission-critical LTE, based on 3GPP Release 13, will be rolled out on a zone-by-zone basis according to customer needs, beginning in 2017.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has set out very high standards, mostly around TETRA functionality and the use of dedicated, highly resilient, fully redundant networks, that Bravo must meet in order to serve critical sectors such as oil and gas.

Bravo also provides communications services to the transportation sector, including the metros and other mass transportation — a market that is experiencing significant growth across the kingdom.

Bravo has also been announced as the newest member of the TCCA in the Middle East.

“It is our honour to join the TCCA as a member, as we move forward in transforming and expanding the critical communications market in Saudi Arabia, and we look forward to being one of the most active TCCA members in the Middle East,” said Dr Fahad bin Mushayt, Bravo CEO.

“This region delivers some of the most exciting projects in our industry. We are delighted to have Bravo as a member and look forward to sharing their knowledge and experiences,” said Phil Kidner, TCCA CEO.

Image courtesy Bravo