Brunei’s Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) has announced plans for 5G mobile network trial. In a press release regarding the matter, the regulator said it was working with wholesale operator Unified National Networks (UNN) and retail mobile network operators (MNOs) Datastream Digital, Imagine and Progresif to conduct a trial which would run for up to eight weeks, ahead of a commercial launch of 5G technology.

According to the AITI, the objective of the 5G trial is to allow UNN and the MNOs to ‘receive and evaluate valuable feedback from the trial participants, which will help to facilitate end-to-end network and process optimisationachieve a satisfactory and successful launch in the near future’. It has been confirmed that each service provider will up to one hundred subscribers who meet a ‘specific selection criteria’ to become trial participants, and these users will be required to ‘actively’ provide feedback on experience and network performance. Those interested in taking part in the trial will reportedly be required to have an existing post-paid plan with their mobile provider and own a 5G-compatible device.

Meanwhile, the AITI notes that UNN is in the final stages of completing the full modernisation of its entire infrastructure to be 5G-ready. This modernisation through ‘RAN expansion and broadband network upgrade’ will reportedly increase the capacity to manage the growing traffic and data volume as well as improve customer experience in Brunei. Commenting on the progress made with regards to the modernisation of its network, UNN CEO Dr Steffen Oehler was cited by RCR Wireless as saying: ‘90% of base stations in the country are already modernised and in place with the technology to start 5G services in the country … The infrastructure is ready for the 5G launch.’