du, a leading telecom and digital services provider, has entered into a three-year strategic agreement with Huawei following the successful deployment of the world’s first 25Gbps E-band microwave link integrated into a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) site rollout.
The partnership goes beyond a traditional procurement model, establishing a joint innovation framework to support rising data transmission demands. It represents a key milestone in du’s efforts to strengthen its 5G-A infrastructure, delivering faster, more reliable, and scalable connectivity across the UAE.
As an early mover in commercial 5G-A deployment, du faces challenges in areas where legacy backhaul links lack sufficient capacity, particularly in fiber-scarce locations. The newly deployed 25Gbps E-band solution addresses these constraints by providing fiber-like capacity over wireless infrastructure.
The solution leverages Huawei’s latest microwave innovations, including the industry’s only 2T2R E-band device capable of delivering up to 26 dBm output power and 25Gbps throughput in a single module. Combined with a two-dimensional intelligent beam tracking (IBT) antenna, the system mitigates alignment issues caused by pole sway and rotation, ensuring stable signal reception and high link reliability.
Designed for scalability, the 25G platform supports multiple 25GE interfaces to meet peak 5G-A site capacity requirements and future network evolution, aligning with the UAE’s long-term 6G vision for 2030. With deployment flexibility across dense urban and remote rural environments, the technology offers faster rollout, improved efficiency, and lower total cost of ownership compared to traditional fiber expansion.
Saleem Alblooshi, Chief Technology Officer at du, said the deployment demonstrates du’s commitment to advancing network performance and bridging connectivity gaps across the UAE, while laying the foundation for future 6G readiness.
James Zeng, President of Huawei’s Microwave Product Line, noted that large-capacity E-band innovation is central to next-generation network development, enabling operators to build high-performance, simplified, and easily deployable backhaul solutions.
