UAE operator du has completed a proof of concept with Ericsson deploying 5G Standalone using millimeter wave extended range technology in residential areas across the UAE, marking the first implementation of mmWave extended range in the country.
The trial used Ericsson’s AIR 5343 radio solution and advanced software features to deliver gigabit speeds across expanded coverage areas, with macro deployment architecture enabling high-capacity Fixed Wireless Access services in residential neighbourhoods. The PoC is intended to demonstrate the commercial viability of mmWave for residential broadband in the UAE market, where du positions FWA as a key product in its connectivity portfolio.
No rollout timeline or target coverage figures were disclosed. The announcement follows du’s broader 5G infrastructure work with Ericsson as a Radio Access Network partner.
Editor’s Note: mmWave has historically been constrained by limited range, making it less viable for residential broadband than sub-6GHz spectrum. The extended range capability being trialled here is the technical hurdle the industry has been working to clear — if the PoC translates into commercial deployment, it would meaningfully expand du’s FWA addressable market in the UAE, where fibre penetration remains uneven across residential areas.
