Orange Belgium is set to deploy a Standalone 5G core network alongside its partners Nokia, Ericsson, and Oracle.
The Standalone 5G network will use cloud-native architecture, which will enable network slicing and maximize what 5G networks can do.
Orange Belgium confirmed that Ericsson will provide the packet core, with Oracle supporting signaling and routing network functions, while Nokia provides subscriber data management and the new radio equipment.
Standalone 5G is the final form of 5G and provides an increased network resilience and quality of service control for business applications.
The operator states that it will 'enable the future development of value-added, on-demand and customized services for consumer markets and industry 4.0 services such', such as Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC), and Massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC) services.
"Our biggest ambition is to support the progress in the telecommunication sector in the best way possible," said Orange Belgium chief technology officer Stefan Slavnicu.
"We are moving towards a more customer-focused approach on the network side. We want to pave the way for next-generation services that will be deployed for all our customers, whether on owned or on third-party infrastructures.”
Earlier this year Orange Belgium acquired the maximum amount of new 5G spectrum that was on offer, with 200MHz acquired. The operator is set to open a new 5G lab in Liège, following the inauguration of its first 5G lab in Antwerp.
