e& UAE launches U6GHz network with speeds up to 10 Gbps

e& UAE has launched the world’s first commercial mobile network using Upper 6GHz (U6GHz) 256TRX Giga‑MIMO technology, deploying service across the 6425–6775 MHz spectrum and delivering up to 350 MHz of continuous bandwidth. Built over the operator’s existing 5.5G footprint, the network can provide single‑user peak downlink speeds of up to 10 Gbps and uplink speeds of up to 1 Gbps, while single‑cell throughput can exceed 50 Gbps using commercial TDD bands. The commercial activation supports the UAE’s national 6G roadmap led by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and advances the country’s evolution toward IMT‑2030 and 6G.

“The commercial activation of U6GHz 256TRX Giga‑MIMO marks a defining milestone in e& UAE’s network evolution,” said Marwan Bin Shakar, Chief Technology Officer – e& UAE. “We have moved from technical validation to a live commercial reality that significantly elevates the 5G‑Advanced experience for our customers today, while operationalising the native architecture needed for 6G. This achievement directly underpins the UAE’s vision to remain the world’s most advanced digital hub, supported by world‑class infrastructure and next‑generation connectivity.”

The deployment uses the Golden 6GHz Band to increase per‑site antenna transceiving capacity relative to conventional 64TRX 5G sites through 256TRX Giga‑MIMO. The operator says the technology enhances capacity, enables dynamic beamforming, improves interference suppression and delivers more consistent service quality in densely populated urban areas. Advanced beamforming is designed to address the propagation challenges inherent to higher‑frequency spectrum so site‑level coverage is comparable to existing 3.5 GHz C‑band infrastructure.

Technical capabilities and intended use cases

• Spectrum range: 6425–6775 MHz (U6GHz), with up to 350 MHz continuous bandwidth.
• Radio technology: 256TRX Giga‑MIMO, offering higher antenna transceiving capacity versus 64TRX deployments.
• Performance: Up to 10 Gbps downlink peak per user, 1 Gbps uplink peak per user, and single‑cell throughput beyond 50 Gbps on commercial TDD bands.
• Architecture: Deployed on e& UAE’s 5.5G network as a commercial layer that prepares the operator for 5G‑Advanced and the pathway to 6G (IMT‑2030).

According to e& UAE, the commercial roll‑out is intended not just to increase raw capacity but to create network layers optimised for emerging, latency‑sensitive applications. Use cases highlighted by the operator include AI‑native network operations, extended reality (XR) services, autonomous industrial systems and mission‑critical smart city infrastructure. The firm also says the end‑to‑end commercial deployment experience will inform a future network‑readiness methodology for next‑generation connectivity.

Outlook

The activation positions e& UAE and the UAE more broadly for early adoption of next‑generation connectivity ahead of international 6G standardisation. By operationalising U6GHz 256TRX Giga‑MIMO commercially, the operator aims to offer broadband‑class wireless performance over the air while providing a platform for high‑throughput, low‑latency services required by AI, XR and industrial automation. The deployment’s focus on advanced beamforming and interference management is intended to deliver urban coverage comparable to 3.5 GHz deployments, helping to scale capacity where demand is concentrated.