stc and Omnispace Sign MoU to Bring Seamless Direct-to-Device Satellite Communications to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

stc Group, the leading digital enabler in the Middle East and Africa region, and Omnispace, the company redefining mobile connectivity for the 21st century, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop space-based 5G mobile communications voice and data services.

stc will leverage the Omnispace 3GPP-compliant 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN), offering customers cost-effective global connectivity beyond its existing cellular land-based network.

The initiative would expand stc's coverage areas to include underserved regions, offering customers seamless, direct-to-device, mobile communications connectivity across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

"We have an important opportunity to develop the network of the future, offering our customers connectivity through an industry-first through a combined cellular and satellite Non-Terrestrial Network," said Eng. Khaled Ibrahim Aldharrab, Vice President of Technology Strategy and Architecture, stc. "We're pleased to announce this collaboration with Omnispace that will not only provide stc with a competitive edge, but also offer our subscribers the communications infrastructure of the future. We look forward to working together to extend our mobile roaming in even the remotest of regions."

"Omnispace is excited to announce this collaboration with stc on the development of an industry-first seamless, best-in-class voice and mobile system that will combine our non-terrestrial system with stc's terrestrial network," said Jay Yass, Chief Corporate Development and Strategy Officer, Omnispace. "We look forward to working with stc to develop the infrastructure of the future, paving the way for greater connectivity, reach and 5G network availability for its subscriber base across the Kingdom."

stc customers across a variety of industry verticals, including automotive, agricultural, industrial, finance, government, oil and gas, IoT along with consumer devices and applications will benefit from ubiquitous voice and data mobile connectivity across the region.