du has become the first operator in the region to deploy 5G-Advanced (5G-A) technology on a live network, marking the UAE as the first country globally to launch a 64T64R dual-band active antenna unit (AAU) operating on both 3.7 GHz (n78) and 2.6 GHz (n41) spectrum. The milestone, achieved in partnership with Huawei, delivers faster speeds, wider coverage, and greener operations.
The dual-band AAU, conceived as part of du’s strategic roadmap, combines hardware into a single unit for improved capacity, spectrum efficiency, and reduced power consumption. Peak data rates have reached ~5.4 Gbps, with average speeds up to 33% faster and stronger connectivity at the cell edge.
Key benefits for customers and enterprises:
- Ultra-fast speeds for 8K streaming, real-time conferencing, and AR/VR.
- Expanded coverage, including hard-to-reach areas.
- Ultra-low latency for autonomous vehicles, smart city services, and critical IoT applications.
- Massive IoT capacity for large-scale deployments.
- Energy efficiency, supporting du’s net-zero sustainability goals.
“5G-Advanced is a monumental leap forward for du and the UAE’s telecom sector,” said Saleem AlBlooshi, du CTO. “It reflects our focus on delivering world-class connectivity while building a sustainable network for the future.”
The deployment integrates Massive MIMO and enhanced spectrum aggregation, setting a new global benchmark for mobile performance. It also lays the groundwork for next-generation use cases like ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) and massive machine-type communication (mMTC), critical to the UAE’s digital transformation goals.
