5G SA Lab Confirms Belgian Operator’s Roaming Readiness

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Belgium-based wholesale carrier BICS has successfully trialled a 5G data session for outbound roamers and demonstrated roaming interoperability between two 5G network providers. The trial, which was held at BICS 5G SA Lab with Belgium carrier Proximus, also established connectivity between the visited and home network via secured gateways, hosted on BICS’ IPX network.

Roaming is a critical element for the communications ecosystem to be able to meet the international needs of end users, according to Mikaël Schachne, BICS VP Mobility and IoT. Geert Standaert, Chief Technology Officer, Proximus said the trial is “a major advancement in Proximus’ 5G Standalone rollout.” 

Many mobile network operators that are deploying the 5G System (5GS) plan to introduce 5GS roaming as a complement to Evolved Packet System (EPS) roaming, Ericsson CTO Erik Ekudden wrote in the Ericsson Technology Review, so smooth interworking between the two is important. “The deployment of the 5GS presents both opportunities and challenges with respect to roaming,” Ekudden said. “While 5GS roaming has many similarities to previous generations, there are also some important differences that communications service providers need to be aware of to ensure a smooth transition.”

One difference has to do with security. The Service-Based Architecture and security functionality to protect the network edge are new in the 5GS, supported by a recently introduced network function called the Security Edge Protection Proxy. “The introduction of 5GS roaming is going to demand attention across all domains,” Ekudden wrote. “There are roaming aspects to consider in the core network, in user data and policies, in services and in backend systems. At the same time, security for roaming partners must also be ensured.”

In other 5G roaming news, MTN South Africa network has become the first mobile operator in Africa to provide 5G access to customers from the Philippines through its international roaming agreement with the Philippines’ leading mobile services provider, Smart Communications, according to Retail News Asia

Globe Telecom Inc., based in the Philippines, has extended 5G roaming services to Vodafone and Telkomsel in Australia and Indonesia, respectively, according to GMA News Online.

By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor

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