du, a prominent telecommunications and digital services provider in the UAE, has announced a strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Nokia. This collaboration aims to innovate the cloudification of du’s Radio Access Network (RAN) in the UAE, significantly improving the flexibility and performance of its 5G network. The partnership was showcased during a joint demonstration of a 5G Cloud RAN solution at the AWS booth at Mobile World Congress 2025.

Under this partnership, du will implement Nokia’s Cloud RAN solution utilizing AWS’s cloud services. This will enable the exploration and development of critical use cases for wireless networks and RAN Edge, providing maximum flexibility for the commercial deployment of Cloud RAN. The new architecture will complement du’s existing infrastructure while ensuring consistency in features and performance. The Nokia Cloud RAN architecture will be powered by microservices-based software operating on AWS cloud infrastructure, combined with on-premises AWS Outposts.

Saleem AlBlooshi, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of du, emphasized that this collaboration supports their goal of delivering exceptional network performance and innovative services. He stated that the 5G Cloud RAN will enhance the network’s efficiency and flexibility, allowing them to explore new opportunities that can provide real value to customers and society.

The solution will utilize the AWS cloud continuum across du’s 5G network, extending to its farthest edges while maintaining a unified automation, observability, and security framework. This strategy aims to speed up the market launch of new monetizable use cases for du. With low-latency transport capabilities, du will experiment with centralized and distributed workload deployments using AWS Outposts servers located at RAN sites. AWS’s cloud continuum will offer diverse architecture and use case support, while du plans to utilize Amazon EKS and AWS Telco Network Builder (TNB) for scalable management.

Amir Rao, Director for Telco 5G at AWS, noted that their collaboration focuses on the cloudification of du’s network. He highlighted that the AWS Outposts Graviton3 based ARM RAN server was designed to provide flexibility in RAN architecture without compromising on operational efficiency and security.

Mark Atkinson, Senior Vice President and Head of Radio Access Networks at Nokia, remarked that this collaboration confirms the effectiveness of their anyRAN approach. He explained that it offers a flexible pathway to scalable benefits through hybrid and cloud-based RAN architectures, which are crucial in the competitive UAE market. The partnership aims to facilitate the evolution of Cloud RAN based on the business priorities of customers, paving the way for new revenue models and monetization opportunities.

This partnership underscores du’s innovative hybrid RAN strategy, which integrates existing infrastructure with cloud-native solutions to offer unmatched flexibility and scalability. The hybrid RAN approach is designed to meet the UAE’s evolving digital requirements and supports the development of advanced edge use cases and industry-specific applications in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and logistics, utilizing AI and machine learning technologies.