Saudi Arabia, August , 2026 – stc group, Saudi Arabia’s leading digital enabler, and Huawei have announced world’s first commercial deployment of Multi‑Band Multi‑Beam MB² microwave solution across the Kingdom. A single MB² antenna covers eight frequency bands ranging from 13 GHz to 38 GHz and supports up to 10 concurrent beams, cutting antenna count by as much as 90%.
Driven by the rapid roll‑out of 5G networks across Saudi Arabia, base‑station density and mobile data traffic have surged significantly. stc faced an urgent need to carry more data across its network and connect sites in multiple directions without adding site complexity, a challenge addressed precisely by the MB² solution:
- A single MB² antenna supports up to 10 different microwave directions;
- It operates across eight frequency bands, giving it far greater flexibility than conventional antennas, including: 13 GHz, 15 GHz, 18 GHz, 23 GHz, 26 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz and 38 GHz;
- It reduces antenna count by up to 90%, saving tower space, easing load constraints and cutting rental expenditure;
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It streamlines site deployment, reduces antenna installation and alignment work, and optimizes the total cost of ownership (TCO).
The commercial project in Saudi Arabia was initially deployed with three transmission directions. Once the first link was established, the second and third were each completed in just 20 minutes, down from three hours per link with conventional microwave solutions. All links maintained stable operation under harsh conditions including temperatures of 50 degree Celsius and strong winds. Should the site require additional capacity (up to 10) in total can be activated without installing extra antennas, making the solution well-suited to the demands of densely connected 5G sites.
This world‑first commercial deployment further deepens the long‑term strategic partnership between stc and Huawei. Drawing on advanced technologies, both parties will accelerate network upgrades and drive future digital service innovation.
