stc groups Marks a Historic High in the Network’s History on Arafat Day with 5G traffic data increased by more than 98%

stc group, a leading digital enabler, recorded the highest traffic in the network’s history during the 1446 Hajj season on Arafat day. Data shows that traffic during peak hours exceeded last year’s numbers by 40% and 5G traffic increased by more than 98%. According to 5G traffic indicators that stc group monitors, Arafat traffic saw a 64% improvement compared to the previous year’s 5G traffic, while speeds increased by 23%.

This exceptional network performance reflects stc group’s network preparations ahead of Hajj to accommodate for the increase in traffic in Makkah during Hajj. The network capabilities provided by stc group reflect the Kingdom’s leadership and commitment to providing world-class digital services.

As part of stc’s role during the annual pilgrimage season, stc made significant investments in digital infrastructure to enhance the 5G network capabilities. This includes the activations of VoLTE technology, ensuring quality voice and audio communications, ensuring pilgrims can perform their pilgrimage rituals safely and smoothly. The expansive stc coverage is supported by more than 80 mobile communication vehicles (COWs) across the holy city, which aids in providing more than 1,000 Wi-Fi access points.

This success is the result of stc’s adoption of self-optimizing network technology, which allows telecommunications networks to automatically detect any network errors, analyze the cause, and fix any gaps in real time. These innovations use artificial intelligence and the latest data analytics tools to redistribute network capabilities and adjust coverage as needed to ensure the continuity of connectivity across the Hajj season. This data comes from more than 350 sites where smart algorithms are enhancing operational plans and network capabilities automatically.

stc’s investment in the Hajj season goes beyond network connectivity; stc also has provided interactive hologram displays in several languages as well as crowd and emergency management devices through the stc Tetra network, which was activated across 144 locations in the Holy City through the deployment of 78 mobile communication vehicles.

The group’s offerings are supported by several stc group subsidiaries, including:

·  Specialized by stc, which offered Manasek and Meeqat packages to support secure and instant communication services for operating entities; and

·  solutions by stc, which is providing a complete package of smart solutions, including networking, device management, and AI-enabled surveillance systems.

These achievements exemplify stc’s ongoing commitment to providing world-class telecommunications services and strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a global digital leader, especially in reliably facilitating the increased network demands on Hajj season every year.