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e& UAE has activated the world’s first commercial mobile network operating in the Upper 6GHz spectrum using 256TRX Giga-MIMO technology, the operator announced as part of a joint industry white paper released this month. The deployment follows an earlier contract award to a strategic infrastructure partner and shifts the project from technical validation to live commercial service in the second half of 2026. This step positions the UAE at the forefront of next-generation wireless development and aligns with national efforts to lead in digital infrastructure.
The network employs the U6GHz spectrum range of 6425-6775 MHz, which provides up to 350 MHz of contiguous bandwidth, e& UAE’s announcement detailed. When combined with 256TRX Giga-MIMO antennas that exceed standard 64TRX 5G configurations, the setup increases network capacity, enables more precise beamforming and improves interference management in dense urban environments. Peak performance targets include downlink speeds of up to 10 Gbps and uplink speeds of up to 1 Gbps, with coverage levels comparable to existing 3.5 GHz C-band deployments.
Marwan Bin Shakar, Chief Technology Officer at e& UAE, said in the announcement, “The commercial deployment of U6GHz 256TRX Giga-MIMO is a major step in e& UAE’s network evolution. It will enhance the 5G-Advanced experience for customers today while preparing the architecture needed for 6G. This investment supports the UAE’s ambition to be a leading hub for advanced digital infrastructure and future digital services.” The technology also supports broader adoption of the so-called Golden 6GHz Band identified for international mobile telecommunications.
A white paper titled The Golden 6 GHz Band, published jointly by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, e& UAE, Khalifa University and NYU Abu Dhabi, found that 200 MHz of U6GHz can deliver approximately three times the cell capacity of a 100 MHz C-band carrier. The assessment combined a 1.5 times efficiency gain with a doubling of available bandwidth relative to current mid-band spectrum. The document presents engineering evidence that the band can carry significantly more traffic using existing cell sites.
The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority was among the first regulators to allocate the full U6GHz range for IMT in the UAE National Frequency Plan following the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference, e& UAE’s materials noted. This regulatory framework enabled the rapid move from trials to commercial readiness years ahead of final 6G standards under IMT-2030. The white paper further supports the country’s national 6G roadmap and contributes to global standardisation discussions.
Commercial device availability for the U6GHz band is expected from September 2026, according to specifications outlined in the joint white paper. More than 60 operators, vendors and manufacturers worldwide have endorsed related GSMA statements on Upper 6GHz readiness. The deployment forms part of e& UAE’s ongoing evolution of its live network, which has already achieved regional firsts in 5.5G modulation and other advanced capabilities.
