Digital DEWA, du to roll out region’s first industrial private 5G slicing

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA) digital arm Digital DEWA and UAE telecom operator Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du) have entered into a partnership which resulted in the setting up of the region’s first Industrial private 5G slicing through 5G stand-alone (SA) technology.

As part of the partnership, Digital DEWA’s InfraX, the subsidiary responsible for ICT services, will be the first in the region to offer the utility industry private 5G slicing driven via edge computing and it will allow DEWA to improve its efficiency and the way of handling the business through a dedicated, secured, and state-of-the-art network.

In line with this initiative, du will construct DEWA’s new mobile core edge infrastructure through a Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) infrastructure solution, which provides separation and independent scaling of control and user planes.

The 5G SA solution from du will allow DEWA’s InfraX to offer seamless and innovative services to the Authority and its subsidiaries. Both parties have agreed to build new use cases to utilize mobile edge computing capability, improving operations, securing networks, and accelerating the digital transformation.

“Our collaboration with du reflects of our efforts to bring the latest and most advanced solutions that will drive the country’s digital transformation. The implementation of 5G slicing through 5G SA is a game-changer to the efficiency of the utility industry and others, as it enables business model innovation and provides businesses with the flexibility to offer services faster with higher security.”

The technology will positively impact several sectors, including utilities, industrial, healthcare, transportation, airports, ports, media, and entertainment. From private network vehicle-to-anything to autonomous driving, remote surgery, remote education and local hosting, the new technology will meet the emerging requirements of a wide range of users.

Mr. Fahad Al Hassawi, Chief Executive Officer of du, said, “We are delighted to announce our cooperation with Digital DEWA on this project and drive further innovative action concerning the 5G SA agenda. In doing so, we will not only showcase our technical expertise but also promote service excellence with innovative solutions, which will present us with further opportunities to enhance customer experiences and solidify our prominent role in the digitization of the economy.”

Related: UK’s Inmarsat to contest Elon Musk & OneWeb with its 5G & LEO satellites