Proximus, BICS Test Intercontinental 5G SA Roaming

In a world-first breakthrough, Proximus Group affiliate BICS has successfully set up the first-ever intercontinental 5G Standalone (SA) roaming connection between two live networks in Europe and the Middle East.

The successful test enabled a roaming connection between Proximus’ 5G SA network and that of the Middle-East-based stc Kuwait. It was the first of its kind to be completed in a non-lab environment and marks a major milestone for the readiness of international 5G SA services and use cases.

Mikaël Schachne, VP Telco Market at BICS, commented, "Until now, operators around the world have only been delivering 5G non-standalone (NSA) roaming that routes traffic through 4G/LTE core. This is the first time anyone has ever carried out a successful live connection across borders using 5G Standalone. By establishing 5G SA roaming, we’ve broken down the barriers to bring the power of this technology to international communications. This is an important step for the industry, and accelerates the benefits of 5G to potential consumers and enterprises around the world."

"The roaming test represents a watershed moment for Proximus in our 5G roll-out. Our goal is to bring next generation experiences to our customers. 5G roaming plays a major role in delivering on that promise. We are excited to have reached this stage through our partnership with stc and BICS, and now look ahead to rolling out the opportunities of 5G Standalone for the benefits of our customers and enterprises alike," said, Geert Standaert, Network & Wholesale Lead, Proximus.