Small Cells World Summit 2025 in Saudi Arabia, part of Connected World KSA, brought together operators, vendors, regulators, and technology leaders for two days of deep discussion on how the Kingdom’s connectivity landscape is rapidly evolving and how the translates globally. With Saudi Arabia accelerating investment ahead of major global events such as the Football World Cup and a national digital transformation strategy, the conference served as a timely snapshot of an industry pushing toward innovation at scale. 

Day 1 

Momentum behind small cells in KSA 

Discussions on Day 1 highlighted that small cell deployment in Saudi Arabia is entering a new growth phase. Small Cell Forum (SCF), the global trade association behind SCWS, noted it is rethinking traditional terminology as the ecosystem expands beyond classical definitions of a ‘small cell’. Data from Analysys Mason showed that while deployment volumes look strong for small cell in the region, private and enterprise networks have clearly emerged as the primary growth engines. 

Indoor coverage dominated the conversation on day one. With Saudi Arabia’s climate driving a high proportion of indoor activity, regulators are prioritizing spectrum and policies that make in-building small cells more viable. Sharing models such as MOCN, Open Access, and selective use of Open RAN were positioned as tools for cost-effective rollout. Importantly, Open RAN is viewed as optional (not a universal requirement), while AI-driven network intelligence is increasingly seen as critical to ensure coexistence and complementarity with macro networks. 

A notable highlight was SCWS sponsor and pavilion partner ACES announcing new R&D progress in 5G small cells for in-building solutions – an encouraging signal of regional innovation and local capability-building. 

Connectivity for stadiums and large venues 

With Saudi Arabia investing heavily in new stadiums and venues ahead of major events planned for 2030 and beyond, venue connectivity emerged as another major theme. Speakers emphasized the need for a blend of technologies – from DAS to Wi-Fi to small cells, and vendors ANDREW and SOLiD presented the latest technology innovations and developments that are improving fan experience.  

Emerging deployment models are also showing promising reductions in equipment room footprint and energy requirements. Additionally, AI is beginning to influence venue connectivity, enabling more personalised and diverse services for attendees. 

Day 2: Technology, regulation, and the road ahead 

Day 2 opened with a focus on transformation enablers. Strategic partnerships with global technology providers were highlighted as essential to accelerating ecosystem maturity in the Middle East and globally. Edge-AI, combined with converged compute and connectivity architectures, is poised to unlock new service possibilities as networks become more advanced. 

An interesting panel session with Aramco Digital, Comba, Nokia, HPE, and TAWAL explored the rising importance of enterprise and mission-critical coverage for emergency services. They highlighted real deployments in the Kingdom of major private networks for enterprise, having discussed trials last year at SCWS Saudi.   

Regulatory collaboration was another major theme. Saudi Arabia’s proactive stance – such as mandating small cell installations in larger buildings – is fuelling sector growth. However, concerns were raised about regulators prescribing specific technologies, a practice uncommon globally and potentially restrictive. Meanwhile, the rollout of a national private network-as-a-service platform highlights the need for industries to co-create solutions tailored to diverse use cases. 

Looking forward: 6G, NTNs, and sustainable connectivity 

The conference closed with a forward-looking lens. Small cell components are now moving into space through non-terrestrial networks; SCF is advancing its AI roadmap toward the 6G era; and sustainability initiatives – such as remote tourist resorts running entirely off-grid, like that in the Red Sea – show what is already possible in Saudi Arabia today. 

Overall, the summit delivered rich insight, healthy debate, and a shared commitment to shaping the next chapter of connectivity in Saudi Arabia – one defined by innovation, collaboration, and bold ambition. 

Join us at the next Small Cells World Summit, held in London 2-3 June 2026. 

To access all the resources and download the presentations from SCWS Saudi 2025, visit: www.smallcellforum.org/scws-saudi/