Du, a leading UAE telecom and digital services provider, has successfully deployed 5G-Advanced (5G-A) technology on its live network in partnership with Huawei—making it the first operator in the region and positioning the UAE as the first country to roll out this next-generation capability.
Central to this achievement is the world’s first 64T64R Dual Band Active Antenna Unit (AAU) operating in the 3.7 GHz (N78) and 2.6 GHz (N41) spectrum bands, a concept envisioned by du as part of its strategy to boost capacity, coverage, and spectrum efficiency. The solution consolidates hardware, enhances performance, and reduces power consumption, supporting both customer experience and environmental goals.
Chief Technology Officer Saleem AlBlooshi described 5G-Advanced as “a monumental leap forward” for both du and the UAE’s telecom sector, highlighting its role in enabling green, sustainable networks. Huawei’s Felix Liu praised the collaboration and noted the AAU’s alignment with UAE sustainability objectives.
The upgraded network delivers peak speeds of ~5.4Gbps, up to 33% faster average rates, improved uplink performance, and stronger cell-edge connectivity. Users can expect ultra-fast data for 8K streaming, real-time conferencing, better coverage in remote areas, and ultra-low latency for applications like autonomous vehicles and smart city infrastructure.
For enterprises, 5G-Advanced supports massive IoT deployments, large-scale digital services, and ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC). It also lays the foundation for future innovation in connected industries and fully digitized urban ecosystems.
