du, a subsidiary of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), has partnered with global technology leaders Nokia and MediaTek to drive a major advancement in 5G uplink performance across the Middle East and Africa (MEA). This pioneering collaboration marks the region’s first successful trial of its kind, delivering a substantial 70% improvement in uplink speeds on du’s 5G Advanced network. Alongside this significant speed enhancement, the trial also resulted in improved indoor coverage, especially benefiting premium customers who rely on stable and high-capacity connectivity.
The trial was conducted in Abu Dhabi, leveraging du’s cutting-edge 5G Advanced infrastructure. It utilized multiple frequency bands and integrated sophisticated technologies such as three transmitter antennas and 2-component Carrier Aggregation (2CC). These technical innovations are essential for meeting the growing demand for high-bandwidth applications like video conferencing, live streaming, and large-scale data uploads. The outcome is a more robust and efficient network that supports seamless user experiences in both personal and professional settings.
Hasan Alshemeili, Head of Infrastructure Technology Planning at du, highlighted the importance of this achievement: “This trial accelerates our network’s uplink performance and underscores our commitment to enhancing customer connectivity since our 5G launch in 2019. Our continuous infrastructure upgrades ensure an exceptional 5G user experience.” His comments reflect du’s ongoing dedication to improving mobile broadband services for its customers through forward-thinking technology investments.
Nokia played a critical role in this initiative by providing its advanced AirScale portfolio, which includes baseband solutions and Massive MIMO radios. These technologies are designed to increase network capacity, expand coverage, and elevate overall performance. Mohamed Samir, Vice President of Mobile Networks, Middle East at Nokia, stated, “This trial demonstrates our commitment to providing cutting-edge technological solutions that meet the evolving needs of connected societies and optimize network performance.”
Meanwhile, MediaTek contributed its T830 5G mobile Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) platform to the trial, which proved instrumental in setting new benchmarks for wireless communication. Dr. Ho-Chi Hwang, General Manager of Wireless Communication System and Partnerships at MediaTek, commented, “Our joint trial reaffirms MediaTek’s dedication to advancing wireless communication technology with high-performance capabilities.”
Carrier Aggregation continues to be a critical technology for mobile operators, enabling the optimization of spectrum and network resources. Through this method, operators can deliver higher data rates, improved connectivity, and wider coverage—ensuring that users benefit from a seamless and powerful 5G experience, even in high-traffic areas or indoor environments.
For more information, visit du’s official website or reach out to Nokia and MediaTek for additional details.
