Ooredoo Qatar, Ericsson prepare for FIFA World Cup 2022

Ooredoo Qatar and Ericsson have extended their partnership to deploy 4+0 carrier aggregation microwave hops as Qatar prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in the fourth quarter of 2022. This first global deployment of Ericsson’s high-capacity, 4+0 MINI-LINK carrier aggregation aims to improve 5G user experience across the country.

The deployment will enhance Ooredoo’s network capability to seamlessly handle the expected surge in users and devices connected to it while delivering optimal performance. Ericsson’s 4+0 MINI-LINK 6365 carrier aggregation will also provide a two-fold capacity improvement to the network, enhancing the 5G experience for Ooredoo Qatar subscribers.

Kevin Murphy, Vice President and Head of Ericsson Levant Countries and Global Customer Unit Ooredoo at Ericsson (Middle East & Africa), said: “Ericsson’s MINI-LINK carrier aggregation is key to a full 5G experience, and we are confident in its ability to meet the increased demands for high-quality connectivity during the major sports event in Qatar. Deploying MINI-LINK carrier aggregation 4+0 links will enable a much faster and reliable deployment of 5G for Ooredoo Qatar while also facilitating several new and exciting use cases throughout the event season.”

What will Ericsson’s 4+0 MINI-LINK carrier aggregation achieve for the FIFA World Cup?

Delivering multi-gigabit speeds, increased capacity, and exceptional mobile broadband connectivity, Ericsson’s MINI-LINK carrier aggregation aims to enable faster and more reliable deployment of 5G with full deployment flexibility and uncompromised user throughput. Ericsson claims that, through reduced power consumption and reduced equipment footprint, the carrier aggregation software helps reduce carbon footprint and tower load.

Günther Ottendorfer, Chief Technology and Infrastructure Officer at Ooredoo Qatar, said: “Our latest collaboration with Ericsson on deploying 4+0 MINI-LINK carrier aggregation will enhance 5G user experience across stadiums in the country and will seamlessly bring high-capacity connectivity to users at sports events in Qatar. With the world’s most anticipated football event drawing nearer, we look forward to providing the best connectivity to our subscribers during the event to experience immersive and unforgettable tournaments.”

Ericsson has been Ooredoo Qatar’s selected partner for Radio Access Network (RAN) and 5G indoor solutions to prepare a world-class network for upcoming tournaments in the country. The first phase of the microwave with 4+0 MINI-LINK carrier aggregation deployment was completed in the first quarter of 2022, with further rollouts planned for the second and third quarters of this year.