Dubai, UAE – e& UAE, Nokia, and MediaTek announced the Middle East’s first successful demonstration of six-component carrier (6CC) aggregation in 5G Standalone (SA), combining 400 MHz of e& UAE’s 5G mid-band spectrum to deliver multi-gigabit peak speeds. The trial, leveraging Nokia’s Massive MIMO radios and baseband solutions alongside MediaTek’s flagship 5G chipset, achieved a throughput of 5.8 Gbps, enabling rapid downloads of UHD content and enhancing network performance for consumers and enterprises.
The test used e& UAE’s commercial spectrum across 3.5 GHz, 2.6 GHz, 2.1 GHz, and 1.8 GHz bands. Nokia’s AirScale portfolio, including Habrok 64 Massive MIMO radios and carrier aggregation software, powered the trial. MediaTek’s prototype smartphone featuring its M90 modem platform supported the 6CC aggregation.
Mark Atkinson, Nokia’s Head of Radio Access Networks, emphasized the breakthrough’s role in maximizing spectrum efficiency and advancing 5G performance in the UAE’s competitive market. Abdulrahman Al Humaidan of e& UAE highlighted how 6CC carrier aggregation leverages existing spectrum assets to achieve multi-gigabit speeds nationwide, underpinning the UAE’s digital future.
HC Hwang, MediaTek Wireless Communication GM, noted the milestone as a leap forward in 5G technology, enhancing download speeds and network connectivity.
This achievement aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s drive to build the world’s fastest and most reliable 5G networks, supporting advanced applications from mobile streaming to smart cities.
