Earlier today, Etisalat announced the launch of the first commercial 5G wireless network in the UAE. Thanks to the Etisalat 5G network, Etisalat is the first in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to achieve this technological milestone, which will see customers being able to use gigabit internet services.
The announcement follows a pre-commercial launch in December, where certain areas of the country had access to high-speed connection and low latency, both features of 5G technology, which allows users to enjoy uninterrupted 4K video streaming, high-quality gaming, AR/VR services and autonomous transport.
This new technology works in conjunction with 4G to provide faster data connectivity combined with higher speed. The larger bandwidth will provide the capacity to handle a larger number of connections in any geographical area.
5G fixed wireless services will now be provided to select locations across the UAE, gradually expanding to other parts of the country depending on consumer demand and requirements, with the aim of availing it to the general public from September 2018.
Saleh Al Abdooli, CEO of Etisalat Group, said, “Today’s announcement is a historic moment for the company as the commercial launch of the 5G network will set a milestone for the UAE. Etisalat today is the first telecom operator in the world to provide this ultra-high 5G C-band data speed as a commercial service over the wireless network.
“5G stands out as a game changer with rich potential, an evolution that would elevate services, performance, and enablement. It is the natural progression as part of our network modernization journey, the anticipated technical specifications are promising, bringing along various desirable features and functionalities.”
The existing 5G network will offer one of the first Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) devices in the world and 5G enabled smartphones will be available from next year, 2019.
