e& UAE has announced a major milestone in its 5.5G evolution with the commercial deployment of 4-Carrier Aggregation (4-CA) on smartphones, marking the first implementation of its kind in the region. The breakthrough combines Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD) spectrum to deliver consistent multi-gigabit speeds, improved coverage, and higher network capacity.
The new 4-CA capability enables smartphones to simultaneously use four spectrum carriers, resulting in smoother performance and faster data transmission even in high-traffic environments. On supported devices, peak downlink speeds exceeding 4 Gbps have been achieved, while FDD spectrum ensures broader and more resilient coverage. This hybrid FDD-TDD approach enhances real-world user experience across diverse locations.
By leveraging FDD for reliable coverage and TDD for high-capacity throughput, the deployment significantly improves network efficiency and supports data-intensive use cases such as 8K video streaming, cloud gaming, and advanced enterprise applications. The successful rollout on commercially available smartphones confirms ecosystem readiness and accelerates the path toward mass adoption of 5.5G-Advanced capabilities.
e& UAE said the achievement aligns with its commitment to deploying the latest 3GPP-aligned 5G-Advanced technologies. Recent network milestones also include achieving 600 Mbps uplink speeds on a live 5G network, reflecting balanced progress across both downlink and uplink performance.
Abdulrahman Al Humaidan, Senior Vice President for Access Network Development at e& UAE, said the deployment strengthens the operator’s live 5.5G network by delivering sustained multi-gigabit speeds and expanded capacity, driven by strategic investments in advanced spectrum assets and next-generation technologies.
The 4-Carrier Aggregation feature is currently live in select locations and is planned for broader rollout across the UAE in 2026 and beyond. The solution also supports Voice over New Radio (VoNR) services and ongoing efforts to refarm 4G spectrum to 5G, ensuring long-term network efficiency and scalability. e& UAE is working closely with global technology partners and device manufacturers to expand device support and accelerate nationwide deployment.
