Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: ACES, a leading Saudi neutral host operator, partnered with British semiconductor innovator RANsemi in a strategic move to boost 5G Open RAN and small cell innovation across the Kingdom.

Backed by the Saudi National Technology Development Programme (NTDP) and guided by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT), the collaboration aims to expand advanced 5G solutions, according to a press release by ACES.

The project combines RANsemi’s 5G baseband expertise with ACES’ in-house RF design capabilities to develop a high-performance 5G Open RAN neutral host small cell system.

Peter Claydon, CEO of RANsemi, described the partnership as a key step in addressing real-world network challenges, adding that the two companies had been working behind the scenes for some time.

The prototype system will be showcased at the Small Cells World Summit (SCWS) in London on June 3-4, 2025.