Zain KSA Partners with Huawei to Revolutionize Online Gaming Through Network Slicing

Zain KSA, the Saudi Arabian arm of Zain Group, has taken a bold step in enhancing online gaming experiences by partnering with Huawei to trial an advanced network slicing solution over its Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband service. This groundbreaking pilot utilized Huawei’s cutting-edge Service Turbo gaming accelerator, achieving remarkable results in reducing latency and improving data speeds for gamers.

Gaming in Saudi Arabia: A Growing Phenomenon

With over 25 million gamers, making up 67% of the Saudi population, online gaming has become a significant cultural and economic force in the region. The increasing popularity of gaming, combined with the country’s diverse geography—ranging from deserts to forests and mountains—has driven the adoption of FWA as a primary broadband solution.

The Power of Network Slicing

The pilot project deployed Huawei’s Service Turbo technology alongside a simulated network load designed to emulate peak traffic conditions. Key results include:

• 90% reduction in gaming jitters, leading to a smoother gaming experience.
• 70% reduction in latency, ensuring rapid response times essential for online gaming.

The trial utilized Huawei’s 5G CPE Pro 6 router and implemented custom network slicing to prioritize gaming data traffic. This approach enabled more efficient scheduling and allocation of network resources, demonstrating the potential for tailored connectivity solutions.

Advancing to 5G-A: The Next Step for Zain KSA

This successful Proof of Concept (PoC) is part of Zain KSA’s broader strategy to upgrade its FWA broadband from 5G to 5G-A. Huawei emphasized that this upgrade will further enhance the capabilities of FWA, providing high-quality internet access even in areas where deploying fiber networks is challenging.

What This Means for Gamers

The collaboration between Zain KSA and Huawei signals a promising future for online gaming in Saudi Arabia. By leveraging network slicing and advanced gaming acceleration technologies, FWA broadband is poised to deliver fiber-like performance, offering gamers a seamless and immersive experience.

This innovation not only highlights Zain KSA’s commitment to its customers but also positions the company as a leader in next-generation broadband solutions, setting a new benchmark for operators in the region.

Don’t miss our 5G Core and 5G Slicing Training to learn more about this technology