Dialog Axiata announces 5G pilot service

Sri Lanka’s Dialog Axiata has launched what it says is South Asia’s first fully standards based 5G pilot service in collaboration with Huawei.

The successful demonstration involved the use of the operator’s Huawei-based RAN and core network with the most current 5G non-standalone architecture to transmit data to a 5G smartphone.

Dialog Axiata group chief executive Supun Weerasinghe said the trial marks another step towards the operator’s introduction of 5G in the region. The operator has to date upgraded over 20% of its base stations to support Massive MIMO technology, giving them 5G ready status.

“The success of South Asia’s first demonstration of a mobile 5G service is yet another milestone following our launch of a fully functional pre-commercial 5G network and builds on our significant investments into high speed broadband network infrastructure in Sri Lanka,” he said.

“Dialog will continue to deliver on its promise of delivering the future today by leveraging the unique capabilities of 5G technology, to spearhead the country’s transformation into a regional technology hub.”

Dialog Axiata launched its pre-commercial 5G network at the end of last year, demonstrating South Asia’s first fully functional and standards compliant 5G transmission using commercial grade base stations.