Nokia, in partnership with e& UAE—the telecommunications flagship of e&—and MediaTek, has successfully demonstrated the Middle East’s first six-component carrier (6CC) aggregation in 5G Standalone (SA) networks. The trial combined 400 MHz of e& UAE’s 5G mid-band spectrum, delivering multi-gigabit peak speeds that enable UHD movie downloads in seconds and reinforcing e& UAE’s position as the world’s fastest mobile network.
Utilizing commercial spectrum bands at 3.5 GHz, 2.6 GHz, 2.1 GHz, and 1.8 GHz, the trial achieved a throughput of 5.8 Gbps. Nokia provided state-of-the-art AirScale equipment, including Habrok 64 Massive MIMO radios, dual-band radios, baseband solutions, and carrier aggregation software. MediaTek contributed a prototype smartphone powered by its flagship 5G chipset capable of 6CC carrier aggregation.
Mark Atkinson, Nokia’s Senior VP and Head of Radio Access Networks, emphasized that this advancement maximizes 5G performance using existing spectrum assets and paves the way to Advanced 5G, transforming end-user experiences across the UAE.
Abdulrahman Al Humaidan, Vice President Access Network at e& UAE, highlighted that aggregating six mid-band carriers unlocks the full potential of current spectrum, bringing multi-gigabit speeds nationwide without waiting for new frequencies. He emphasized the role of 5G in powering everything from streaming to smart city innovations, reinforcing the UAE’s digital future.
MediaTek also hailed the achievement as a significant leap in 5G technology enabled by its M90 modem platform, underscoring their commitment to enhancing network speeds and connectivity.
