Du and etisalat unveil new services boosting UAE push towards 6G

UAE telecom providers du and etisalat have introduced new services to enhance mobile communications, aligning with the nation's rapid progress towards 6G technology. Du announced the delivery of commercial U6GHz connectivity on its 5G+ network, which will support high-capacity services across homes, businesses, and industries. This U6GHz spectrum is anticipated to improve cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital experiences, and connected environments.

The U6GHz band was designated for global mobile communications in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, as well as several Asian countries and China, Brazil, and Mexico.

Du's chief technology officer, Saleem Alblooshi, highlighted that making U6GHz "available to customers" would unlock new opportunities for consumers, businesses, and emerging digital applications. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi-based etisalat launched a service that triples upload speeds for smartphones. Utilizing 2x2 Mimo technology, etisalat's 5.5G network enables faster transmission of data streams between mobile devices and cellular base stations.

This innovation will allow for quicker sharing of high-resolution photos, videos, and large files, as well as better support for AI-powered applications, according to etisalat's chief technology officer, Marwan bin Shakar. He emphasized that the changing mobile experience necessitates increased upload capacity, particularly for real-time data transmission to AI and cloud applications.

In a separate development, etisalat claimed to have launched the world's first mobile network operating on U6GHz, a crucial step in accelerating the UAE's transition to the 6G era. Though the country has not officially adopted 6G cellular technology, the U6GHz network leverages innovations that "enhance the 5G-advanced experience" and prepare the groundwork for its widespread adoption.

These announcements from du and etisalat are part of a series of developments in the UAE related to the eventual implementation of 6G technology. In recent months, du and Khalifa University conducted field trials for the new technology, and last year, the Telecommunications and Digital Regulatory Authority announced plans to allocate 600MHz and 6GHz bands, which accelerated the development of 6G services in the Arab world's second-largest economy.

South Korea's Samsung predicts that 6G networks will become widespread by 2030, with standards completion and early commercialization expected by 2028.