Du has announced the successful deployment of 5G-Advanced (5G-A) technology on its live network, making the UAE the first country in the region to roll out the next-generation capability. The launch, carried out in collaboration with Huawei, marks a major milestone for the telecom operator and is positioned as a step forward for the nation’s digital infrastructure.
The upgrade includes the integration of the 64T64R Dual Band Active Antenna Unit (AAU) operating in both the 3.7 GHz (N78) and 2.6 GHz (N41) spectrum bands. According to du, the concept was first developed as part of its strategy to improve network capacity, coverage, and spectrum efficiency. The company says this deployment represents the first use of a Dual Band AAU worldwide on a live network.
By consolidating hardware and improving spectrum use, the new system is designed to boost performance while lowering energy consumption and reducing carbon emissions. du stated the technology also achieves a peak data rate of approximately 5.4Gbps and average data rate improvements of up to 33%, with enhanced connectivity at the cell edge and better uplink speeds.
Saleem AlBlooshi, Chief Technology Officer at du, said, “5G-Advanced is a monumental leap forward for du and the UAE’s telecom sector. This milestone reflects our ongoing efforts to deliver world-class connectivity and support the nation’s vision to be a global technology leader. It also reaffirms our focus on building a green, sustainable network for the future.”
Huawei, which partnered with du on the rollout, also emphasised the significance of the project. Felix Liu, Chief of UAE Carrier Business at Huawei, said, “Huawei is privileged to be part of 5G-Advanced network construction together with du. We have been continuously engaged with our customers to understand network needs and provide tailored solutions which can bring business success. Huawei’s 5G Dual Band AAU is another flagship solution which offers outclass network performance and customer experience and is in line with UAEs sustainability goals.”
The new 5G-Advanced network is expected to deliver noticeable benefits for both individual and business users. For consumers, du said the system will support ultra-fast data speeds suited to bandwidth-heavy services such as 8K video streaming and real-time conferencing, while improving coverage in remote areas and reducing latency for applications like autonomous driving and smart city systems.
For enterprise customers, the technology enables large-scale Internet of Things (IoT) deployments and supports a variety of digital services. The dual-band radio design is also intended to improve energy efficiency, contributing to du’s stated net-zero sustainability objectives.
The deployment includes advanced features such as Massive MIMO and enhanced spectrum aggregation. The company positioned the upgrade as a foundation for future technological developments, with capabilities such as ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) and massive machine-type communication (mMTC) to enable innovations in connected industries and smart infrastructure.
du confirmed the 5G-Advanced initiative is part of its long-term plan to advance beyond current 5G standards, working alongside global partners and local regulators to maintain the UAE’s competitive position in global digital transformation.
