Thailand's mobile operator, Advanced Info Service (AIS), has announced Asia's first 5G Standalone (SA) roaming connection to STC Kuwait in partnership with the international connectivity provider BICS. It is the first of its kind to offer a direct connection with AIS SEPP (Secure Edge Protection Proxy) and a full-service 5G SA Service Hub to STC Kuwait, as noted in the official release.
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Asia's First 5G SA Roaming Connection
According to BICS, the successful connection enabled AIS and STC Kuwait to deliver an international 5G roaming connection carrying data, texts and calls using a 5G Mobile Core Network. Previously, 5G connections in the region used Non-Standalone (NSA) 5G technology and were routed as 4G/LTE traffic in core networks.
BICS' Path to 5G SA
BICS said this is the first in a series of 5G Standalone (SA) accomplishments. The company previously completed the first-ever connection in a lab environment back in 2021, followed by the first global 5G SA roaming connection between the Middle East and Europe in 2022.
Also Read: World’s First Live 5G SA Roaming Connection Executed by Stc Kuwait and BICS
Enhanced Security and Performance
The official release noted that this latest successful roaming connection surpasses the standard requirements, incorporating an additional security layer on top of the SEPP protection established by operators.
All traffic is sent from the operators' SEPPs through BICS' new 5G SA Service Hub, and BICS adds data analytics, business intelligence, quality monitoring, and a robust layer of fraud protection for the 5G roaming traffic exchanged between operators around the world.
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This recent achievement brings global 5G SA even closer to reality.
