Telecom Egypt has completed a mobile services trial using upper 6GHz spectrum in cooperation with the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and Huawei, achieving data speeds of around 1.7Gbps per user in what the partners describe as the first test of its kind in Egypt and Africa.
The trial involved operating a mobile base station in the 6GHz band and completing a data call over the spectrum.
The test forms part of wider efforts to assess how upper 6GHz frequencies could support the evolution of 5G networks and future high-capacity mobile services.
Trial demonstrates 1.7Gbps per-user speeds
Telecom Egypt said the trial achieved approximately 1.7Gbps per user.
The result highlights the potential of upper 6GHz spectrum to add substantial mobile capacity, particularly in dense areas where traffic demand is high.
Tamer El Mahdi, managing director and chief executive officer of Telecom Egypt, said the trial reflects the operator’s efforts to explore new technologies while preparing its network for future demand.
He said the technology could improve customer experience while strengthening Telecom Egypt’s wider role in developing the country’s digital infrastructure.
NTRA sees upper 6GHz as a future capacity layer
The NTRA said the band is among the latest internationally recognised frequency ranges being considered for high-capacity mobile services.
Its use could provide additional spectrum for 5G evolution and next-generation networks, helping operators improve throughput and relieve congestion.
That is particularly important in markets where mobile data growth is putting increasing pressure on existing spectrum resources.
Huawei equipment supports the test
The trial was conducted using Huawei technology.
By combining operator infrastructure, regulatory oversight and vendor equipment, the test gives Egypt a practical basis for evaluating how upper 6GHz could fit into future spectrum policy and mobile network planning.
The source does not indicate any commercial launch date or confirm that the band has been allocated for live mobile services.
6GHz could support more data-intensive applications
The NTRA said the spectrum could support applications requiring high data rates and low latency, including artificial intelligence, Internet of Things deployments, virtual and augmented reality and cloud computing.
These use cases can place heavier demands on mobile networks than conventional browsing and messaging, increasing the need for additional capacity.
Upper 6GHz spectrum could therefore become part of a wider toolkit for supporting denser and more data-intensive mobile environments.
Why this matters
The significance of the trial lies less in the headline speed and more in the spectrum strategy behind it.
Upper 6GHz could give mobile operators another capacity layer between traditional mid-band 5G spectrum and much higher-frequency millimetre-wave bands.
For Egypt, testing the band now gives the regulator and operator more evidence before future allocation decisions are made.
Editor’s note
The key question is whether upper 6GHz becomes commercially viable for mobile use at scale.
That will depend on future spectrum policy, device support, equipment economics and how the band is balanced against other wireless uses.
Egypt’s early trial is strategically important because spectrum decisions made now will shape how much capacity operators can access later as 5G traffic and data-intensive applications continue to grow.
