Huawei and Saudi Telecom Company partner to launch LTE TDD service in Saudi Arabia

Middle East, 4 October, 2011: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, and Saudi Telecom Company (STC), the leading national provider of telecommunications services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, today jointly announced the launch of LTE TDD service in Saudi Arabia. Covering two major regions within the kingdom, including the cities of Riyadh and Dammam, the new network is capable of downlink speeds of up to 100Mb/s, allowing STC customers to enjoy a variety of data services at unprecedented speeds.

Huawei provided its industry-leading end-to-end SingleRAN LTE solution for STC. This solution is comprised of Huawei's radio access network SingleRAN solution, its convergent core network SingleEPC solution, its E398 LTE TDD/FDD dual-mode commercial USB dongle, and its E392 LTE TDD/FDD/GSM/UMTS/CDMA multi-mode USB dongle.

STC will provide LTE service for consumers across Saudi Arabia using its expertise as the largest mobile operator in the Middle East. Since 1996, STC's commitment to providing subscribers with faster connection speeds and better service has resulted in a 50-fold increase in the speed of STC's networks. This commitment, which has included the adoption of many of the telecom industry's leading technologies as well as the deployment of a GSM/UMTS/HSPA+ network, has enabled STC to stay ahead in Saudi Arabia's increasingly competitive telecom market.

Dr.Zeyad Thamer Al-Otaibi, Group CTO of Saudi Telecom Company, said, "STC is pleased to have Huawei as a partner in this important launch of LTE TDD services in Saudi Arabia. STC continually works to ensure that our subscribers have access to the fastest connection speeds possible, and together with Huawei and its end-to-end SingleRAN LTE solution, we are able to do just that while also maintaining our impeccable service record."

Deng Taihua, President of WiMAX/TDS/LTE, Huawei, said, "STC selected Huawei to deploy its LTE TDD network in important regions within the kingdom that include the major metropolitan areas of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital, and Dammam. We are confident that our end-to-end SingleRAN LTE solution will improve STC's overall competitiveness and will further consolidate its market leadership in the mobile broadband era."

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About Saudi Telecom Company
Saudi Telecom Company (STC) is the largest telecommunications company by market capitalization, total revenue and number of employees in the Arab State region. Strong leadership coupled with strategic investments have increased shareholder value and enabled STC to provide 98% coverage and the introduction of new products and services (GSM, UMTS, LTE, Blackberry, IPTV, MMS, high internet speed) in Saudi Arabia.

About Huawei
Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Through our dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, we have established end-to-end advantages in telecom networks, devices and cloud computing. We are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers by providing competitive solutions and services. Our products and solutions have been deployed in over 140 countries, serving more than one third of the world's population. For more information, visit Huawei online: www.huawei.com

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