Operator and global technology group e& UAE has deployed the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) first dual-band 64T64R MetaAAU, an advanced active antenna unit from Huawei, on its live 5G network. This innovative technology improves 5G performance while reducing energy consumption and equipment requirements.
The MetaAAU integrates two frequency bands (2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz) into a single unit, reducing hardware needs and cutting power consumption by 35%. Additional smart energy-saving features, such as symbol-level sleep, lower energy use by a further 15% during low traffic periods.
The advanced antenna technology doubles capacity compared to traditional units (384 antenna units versus 192), significantly enhancing coverage, strengthening indoor signals, and improving connectivity in crowded areas by 30% to 60%. Unlike traditional setups requiring separate installations per band, this integrated solution reduces the equipment footprint by 60% and halves deployment time, enabling faster, more efficient network rollouts.
Abdulrahman Al Humaidan, Senior VP of Access Network Development at e& UAE, stated, “This deployment marks a breakthrough in compact, high-performance network technology and is a key milestone on our path to net zero by 2030 and 5G-Advanced. By merging two critical 5G frequency bands into one intelligent unit, we have halved the equipment needed while significantly boosting coverage, speed, and energy efficiency—a smarter, greener approach to connectivity for our customers.”
