e& UAE<\/a>, Khalifa University and NYU Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTitled “The Golden 6 GHz Band,” the white paper presents evidence that Upper 6 GHz can carry significantly more traffic than existing mid-band spectrum, and it can do so using current cell sites. Consequently, the research supports the case for treating this spectrum as a practical near-term capacity solution rather than a distant 6G concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The TDRA was among the first regulators worldwide to identify the full Upper 6 GHz range for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) within the UAE National Frequency Plan. This followed the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23), which identified the 6425\u20137125 MHz range for IMT across International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Region 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Within that broader range, e& UAE holds an allocation of 6425\u20136775 MHz, offering up to 350 MHz of contiguous spectrum. As a result, this regulatory clarity allowed e& UAE to proceed with a commercial 256TRX Giga-MIMO deployment, designed to deliver peak downlink speeds of up to 10 Gbps. The rollout is slated for the second half of 2026. Meanwhile, Khalifa University and the NYU Abu Dhabi Wireless Center carried out the modelling and analysis behind the published findings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the study, coverage remains largely consistent across environments. Across dense-urban, urban, suburban and rural outdoor settings, Upper 6 GHz reach stayed within 2 to 5 percent of 3.5 GHz C-band performance. The higher-frequency propagation penalty was offset by the Giga-MIMO radio system. Even in the most demanding dense-urban indoor scenario, coverage remained within roughly 3 percent of C-band reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, the research found a spectral-efficiency gain of approximately 1.5 times, driven by the 256TRX array along with its beamforming, MU-MIMO pairing and scheduling capabilities. This gain applied independently of bandwidth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When comparing 200 MHz of Upper 6 GHz against a 100 MHz C-band carrier, the study recorded roughly three times the cell capacity. This figure combines the 1.5x efficiency gain with a 2x bandwidth ratio, and it aligns with independent third-party analyses. Overall, the commercial system pairs e& UAE’s contiguous spectrum allocation with 256TRX Giga-MIMO technology to target peak downlink speeds of up to 10 Gbps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notably, the results are based on modelled assumptions, so actual commercial performance will depend on deployment conditions, spectrum assignment and device capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From an operational standpoint, the white paper frames the spectrum as a capacity overlay that sits on top of e& UAE’s existing 5.5G network footprint. The radio layer can therefore be co-sited with the existing C-band macro grid, reusing towers, rooftop positions, power and transport infrastructure, with backhaul upgraded where necessary. As a result, this approach could reduce the need for network densification while lowering cost-per-bit as capacity scales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tariq Al Awadhi, Executive Director of Spectrum Affairs at TDRA, said regulatory certainty turns research into infrastructure, and that identifying the spectrum early gave the UAE ecosystem confidence to invest ahead of the field. He added that publishing the work jointly with operator and university partners reflects how spectrum policy should be developed, on evidence and in the open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marwan Bin Shakar, Chief Technology Officer at e& UAE, described the shift from trial to commercial deployment as a significant engineering step. He noted that customers can expect higher speeds, greater capacity and a more consistent experience in high-traffic areas, and that the results are being published so the wider industry can assess them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bayan Sharif, Provost of Khalifa University, said the university’s role was to independently evaluate performance through rigorous modelling and analysis. He noted that the propagation penalty can be compensated for, with a spectral-efficiency gain of around 1.5 times achievable under well-conditioned assumptions, and that making the methodology public allows others to examine and build on the research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marta Losada, Interim Provost of NYU Abu Dhabi, said the research reflects the strength of the university’s work in wireless communications. She added that the NYU Abu Dhabi Wireless Center has contributed to understanding how new spectrum and emerging technologies can expand future network capacity, laying groundwork for how people will connect in the years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond capacity metrics, the white paper also outlines a use-case roadmap spanning Connect Home, Connect Industry, and Connect Consumer & Vehicle. These include fibre-like fixed wireless broadband, high-bandwidth enterprise and public-sector applications, AI-enabled home experiences, and connected vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This collaboration builds on a wider body of industry-academia 6G work in the UAE, including TDRA’s national roadmap “6G: Next-Generation Connectivity in the UAE,” the e& UAE-NYU Abu Dhabi white paper “Building the Fabric of 6G,” and the e& UAE-Khalifa University paper “6G AI-Native Networks,” which feeds into ITU IMT-2030 and 3GPP Release 21+ discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Internationally, more than 60 operators, vendors, chipset providers and device manufacturers have signed the GSMA’s “Upper 6 GHz Readiness and the Future of Mobile” statement. Furthermore, TDRA plans to include Upper 6 GHz (n104) requirements in national type-approval specifications, with commercial device availability expected from September 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The full white paper can be downloaded here: U6GHz White Paper Report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn summary, the move to commercialize Upper 6 GHz marks a notable step in the UAE’s broader 6G strategy, positioning the spectrum as a practical capacity solution built on existing infrastructure rather than a purely experimental technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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