Du and Khalifa University 6G trials bolster UAE role in 'shaping the future'

UAE telecoms giant du and Khalifa University have successfully completed field trials for 6G technology, reaffirming the nation's commitment to innovation. The trials, conducted in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi, demonstrated outdoor coverage of up to 500 metres and peak downlink speeds of nearly 1.5 gigabits per second. Sixth-generation technology, or 6G, promises faster data transfer rates for smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices.

According to a joint report by du and Khalifa University, the trials represent the first of their kind in the region to validate upper-mid-band spectrum performance at scale. Khalifa University president Ebrahim Al Hajri emphasized the translation of world-class research into practical solutions, strengthening the UAE's position as a global hub for innovation and advanced technology.

Du CEO Fahad Al Hassawi highlighted the importance of the trials in pushing the envelope of telecoms systems, stating that networks must evolve to understand customer needs and contribute to economic growth. The report outlines how telecom providers can adapt their networks to integrate communication, computing, data, sensing, and AI into a unified infrastructure of intelligence, continuously learning from real-time data to anticipate demand and optimize resources.

The rapid evolution of wireless technology occurs approximately every decade, with research on 6G technology beginning in 2020. As every country adopts wireless technology differently, the US began standardizing 3G in 2002, 4G in 2010, and 5G in 2019. The UAE has been actively working towards becoming a leader in 6G development, with the Telecommunications and Digital Regulatory Authority announcing plans to allocate 600MHz and 6GHz bands in 2024, thereby accelerating the country's progress in this field.