Etisalat UAE, branded as etisalat by e&, announced the successful completion of its first trial of the 6GHz spectrum, creating history by taking this monumental step for the future of 5G and opening up a world of possibilities for next-generation technologies and economies of the future.
This trial conducted with Huawei Technologies was integral in today’s technology evolution as the full speed and capabilities of 5G depend on mid-band spectrum that both secures performance in the long term and adds more capacity if required. Here, 6GHz plays a critical role, especially considering the use of mobile technologies has grown exponentially; devices have become more powerful and services more diverse for both consumers and enterprises. Along with bandwidth-hungry applications, the number of connected devices per person has also increased, which means more bandwidth will further be required to limit service degradation and deliver a good quality experience.
The 6GHz range is a mid-band frequency and sits at a balancing point between coverage and capacity, providing the perfect environment for 5G connectivity. Extending the bandwidth of 5G through the harmonization of 6GHz spectrum will provide more essential bandwidth and improve network performance. On top of this, the broad, contiguous channels offered by the 6GHz range will reduce the need for network densification and make next-generation connectivity more affordable for all.
Khalid Murshed, Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO), Etisalat UAE, said: “5G allows the industry to support national digital transformation goals by providing reliable, high capacity, low latency, and wide-area connectivity to consumers and industries. The metaverse is opening untapped opportunities with hyper-personalised experiences powered by AI. Telcos will be the entry point to the metaverse because of connectivity but also because the customer wants access to a digital world. The future is powered by AI and analytics, with metaverse playing a role yet to be defined. This kind of technology disruption will create challenges but simultaneously bring massive prospects to this dynamic industry.
“The trial for 6GHz was influenced by these future market requirements as we foresee a significant growth accelerated by these applications. As a digital telco, we focus on our core while curating digital experiences that maximise engagement by building new capabilities across AI and digital to thrive in an increasingly competitive and ever-changing market environment.”
The focus on 6GHz is also in line with etisalat by e&’s future roadmap as part of the e& group transformation drive to become a global technology conglomerate.
etisalat by e& has also been working towards meeting the various requirements of IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications) set by ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and the World Radiocommunication Conference to be held in 2023 in UAE. This adherence is in line with various countries undergoing similar trials supporting the spectrum for IMT along with other regulators and operators.
