UAE Telecom Giant e& Launches World's First U6GHz Network to Pave the Way for 6G

UAE telecoms group e& has announced the launch of the world's first mobile network operating on Upper 6GHz1 (U6GHz), marking a major milestone in the development of 6G technology. According to e&, this move "accelerates the nation's transition to the 6G era."

Chief technology officer Marwan Bin Shakar described the network launch as a significant achievement, stating, "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." While sixth-generation cellular technology will eventually offer faster speeds and enhanced data transfers for smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices, this new U6GHz mobile network currently focuses on elevating the 5G-advanced experience and establishing standards for the future.

Engineers utilized "advanced beamforming capabilities" to overcome traditional 5G network limitations and applied "superior interference suppression" to maintain quality service in densely populated areas, as detailed in e&'s news release. Mr Bin Shakar noted that the achievement directly supports the UAE's vision to remain a leading global digital hub backed by advanced infrastructure.

This development follows other recent 6G initiatives in the region. Last month, du and Khalifa University reported successful field trials in Mohamed bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi, achieving outdoor coverage up to 500 metres and downlink speeds near 1.5 gigabits per second. Additionally, in 2024, the UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Regulatory Authority announced plans to allocate 600MHz and 6GHz bands to foster 6G development.

With Samsung predicting widespread 6G adoption by 2030 and early commercialisation by 2028, ongoing research and field tests—which began in 2020—remain crucial for bringing the next generation of wireless technology to reality.