The 6GHz spectrum marked a major milestone at the SAMENA Council Leaders’ Summit 2026 with the launch of a commercial Upper 6GHz (U6GHz) ecosystem. The initiative brought together regulators, operators, device makers, and technology leaders under one unified commercial commitment. As a result, this multi-stakeholder move reinforces the UAE’s leadership in global digital development and reflects evolving network and regulatory approaches to rising data demand and AI-driven traffic.

During the 5G-Advanced & AI Applications for Resilient Economy Forum, held alongside the summit, industry stakeholders took part in the first step toward U6GHz commercialization. Participants included chipmakers and device manufacturers. Consequently, this collaboration supports the evolution of 5G-Advanced and lays early groundwork for future 6G technologies.

At the joint commercialization ceremony, representatives from TDRA, the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, Huawei, du, e&, GSMA, Nokia, HONOR, and Tozed confirmed their commitment to building the ecosystem. In parallel, a dedicated session addressed 6GHz policy, technology, and deployment alignment. The session, supported by GSMA and chaired by TDRA, highlighted the importance of balanced spectrum allocation to support future mobile technologies while ensuring coexistence with existing services.

U6GHz refers to the 6425–7125MHz range, identified as Band n104 under 3GPP standards. It provides 700MHz of continuous bandwidth. Therefore, it enables a balance between wide-area coverage and high-capacity performance. Often described as the “golden spectrum,” it plays a critical role as networks evolve beyond traditional downlink-heavy models.

Meanwhile, AI usage continues to rise rapidly across industries. As more AI systems operate globally, data processing demand is increasing significantly. This shift is placing pressure on networks to deliver secure, reliable, and low-latency connectivity with balanced uplink and downlink capacity.

According to estimates from SAMENA Council technology members, U6GHz can deliver peak speeds of up to 10Gbps downlink and 1Gbps uplink under 5G-Advanced. Moreover, this spectrum supports a smooth transition from 5G-A to 6G. TDRA-UAE has already outlined a roadmap for this evolution. For the UAE, this development strengthens digital infrastructure across sectors such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Recently, the global U6GHz ecosystem entered a phase of accelerated growth. It has moved from technical validation to large-scale commercial deployment. Vendors have showcased compatible infrastructure, while ecosystem players continue to scale development efforts.

At MWC26, Huawei introduced a full range of U6GHz products. These solutions deliver coverage comparable to the C-band and achieve peak speeds of up to 10Gbps. In addition, GSMA, Huawei, Qualcomm, Tozed, Meig, and other stakeholders confirmed ecosystem readiness. At the same time, operators including Vodafone, China Mobile, and Brazil TIM completed field tests, further supporting commercialization.

Bocar BA, CEO of the SAMENA Council, stated that the UAE has moved ahead of many markets by transitioning from trials to commercial rollout. He noted that the summit played a key role in fostering collaboration and advancing the ecosystem during a critical period.

Furthermore, GSMA emphasized that the U6GHz ecosystem is ready for commercial deployment. The organization highlighted its role in enabling 10Gbps connectivity and serving as an initial spectrum for future 6G networks. The Middle East, therefore, is well positioned to benefit during the 5G-Advanced phase.

In 2025, e& UAE, in partnership with Huawei and others, completed U6GHz field tests. The trials achieved a 10Gbps user experience and supported the vision of building Dubai’s “5G-A 10Gbps connection” city. As a result, the Leaders’ Summit 2026 ceremony officially marked the start of commercial U6GHz services in the country.

Looking ahead, U6GHz deployment will expand coverage across major cities and key economic zones. This will enable enterprises and residents to access stable, ultra-high-speed connectivity. In addition, it will drive applications in smart cities, industrial internet, healthcare, and tourism. Use cases include remote medical diagnosis, intelligent traffic systems, and immersive digital services.

Finally, the rollout is expected to strengthen international collaboration and promote innovation and standardization. By 2028, U6GHz is projected to cover over 80% of the UAE population, supporting long-term digital growth and future 6G readiness. Overall, this positions the UAE as a global reference market for next-generation connectivity driven by the 6GHz spectrum.

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