The UAE's two telecom operators, du and etisalat, have rolled out new network services that mark fresh steps on the country's path toward sixth-generation mobile technology. Du has commercially launched U6GHz connectivity on its 5G+ network, a technology that combines wide, contiguous spectrum bandwidth to deliver a more balanced mix of capacity and coverage, built to support high-demand applications for homes, businesses and industry.
Etisalat, meanwhile, has introduced upload speeds up to three times faster for compatible smartphones on its 5.5G network, using 2x2 MIMO wireless technology that allows two data streams to be transmitted simultaneously between a device and a cellular base station. The upgrade is aimed squarely at AI applications, cloud services and high-resolution content sharing, areas where upload capacity has become a growing bottleneck.
Du chief technology officer Saleem Alblooshi said the move unlocks new opportunities for consumers, businesses and emerging digital applications. Etisalat CTO Marwan bin Shakar added that smartphones are no longer simply consuming content but increasingly creating, sharing and sending much richer data, a shift that justifies heavier investment in upload capacity.
Both launches build on the UAE telecoms regulator's 2024 allocation of 600MHz and 6GHz spectrum bands to prepare networks for next-generation mobile standards. Du has already run 6G field trials with Khalifa University as recently as August this year, positioning itself ahead of the wider industry curve.
Samsung has projected that global 6G standards will be finalised by 2028, with broader commercial adoption expected from 2030 onward. By moving early on infrastructure and spectrum, the UAE is positioning itself among the countries best placed to lead that transition once 6G networks become commercially viable worldwide.