Etisalat UAE, branded as etisalat by e&, has successfully completed its first trial of the 6GHz spectrum, which marks a significant step for the future of 5G.
The trial conducted with Huawei Technologies was integral in today’s technology evolution as full speed and capabilities of 5G depend on mid-band spectrum that secures performance in the long term, according to the telco.
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 harmonisation of 6GHz spectrum will provide more 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 highlighted that 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,” he said.
Murshed further noted that the trial for 6GHz was influenced by these future market requirements as they 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.
5G is being viewed as an enabler of the future digital society and the foundation for the digital economy. According to GSMA’s latest report, 5G will bring an economic contribution of $700 billion to society in 2030. At the end of March 2022, 5G services have been launched in more than 70 countries, with more than 220 5G networks being deployed, and more than 700 million 5G users.
