Nokia to open MEA Open Innovation lab

New lab to help operators and enterprises to explore new use cases for Industry 4.0

(Image credit: Nokia, for illustrative purposes only)

#UAE #cloud - Nokia is to launch an Open Innovation lab for the Middle East and Africa in Dubai to help drive regional innovation for Cloud RAN (or C-RAN, a new type of Radio Access Network), and accelerate the adoption of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning for network automation and optimisation.

SO WHAT? - C-RAN wil be crucial for the evolution of 5G and 5G-connected Internet of Things (IoT) networks, helping to reduce cost, while improving manageability and capacity. The GCC is currently investing heavily in IoT networks for transport, Industry 4.0, smart cities and security, with many new networks starting to implement 5G. As a testbed for 5G applications, both telecom operators and enterprises in the region will find both centres of excellence and C-RAN focus from R&D labs useful.

• The Open Innovation lab will focus on three key areas: 1) drive further innovation in the Cloud RAN space; 2) showcase Industry 4.0 use cases and industrial edge applications running on Nokia’s MX Industrial Edge (MXIE) platform; and 3) showcase Nokia's MantaRay solution portfolio for intelligent network management and automation..

• The lab will help to leverage Nokia's global strategic collaborations with Dell Technologies and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to develop solutions for operators and enterprises.

• Nokia expects the new lab to support operators and enterprises in enhancing network efficiency and performance, as well as to "unlock new monetisation opportunities".

ZOOM OUT - Telecom operators in Saudi Arabia and the UAE have both invested heavily in 5G networks in line with national efforts to leverage IoT, edge computing and autonomous vehicles. Although, as with other 5G markets, monetisation remains a challenge. Meanwhile, there are growing opportunities for 5G operators in manufacturing, minding, oil and gas, and other industrial sectors. Both Saudi and UAE governments have created national Industry 4.0 programmes to accelerate the digital transformation of their industrial sectors, partnering with leading technology vendors and providing financial assistance.

The opening of Nokia's new lab also comes as many digital transformation programmes in government and commercial sectors hit milestones and are in a better position to leverage edge computing, IoT networks and the data they produce.

IMO - Although not mentioned in the press release, there are research institutions in the Middle East that are already working on future innovations and technologies for 5G and 6G, including related artificial intelligence models, and so this provides another obvious area for collaboration.

LINKS

• Read the original Nokia press release (Zawya)

• Industry 4.0 gathers pace in Saudi Arabia (Middle East AI News)

• Will robots build the 'third pillar' of Saudi's economy? (Middle East AI News)