UAE Plans 10Gbps Speeds via 6 GHz Spectrum Reuse
The UAE is moving Upper 6 GHz band from trials to commercial use, aiming to triple network capacity using existing tower sites.
Key points
- UAE plans to commercialize Upper 6 GHz spectrum by late 2026 to boost network capacity.
- The strategy reuses existing tower sites to achieve up to three times the cell capacity.
- Target peak speeds reach 10 Gbps, with coverage within 5% of current mid-band standards.
The United Arab Emirates is shifting its Upper 6 GHz spectrum from experimental trials to commercial deployment. This move relies on a new joint study that argues the higher frequency band can significantly boost wireless capacity without requiring new physical infrastructure.
The initiative involves the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), operator e& UAE, and academic partners from Khalifa University and NYU Abu Dhabi. They published a white paper detailing how this spectrum can support higher traffic volumes by leveraging existing cell sites.
Capacity gains from existing sites
The core advantage of this approach is cost and time efficiency. By using the Upper 6 GHz band, operators can co-locate new radio equipment with existing 3.5 GHz macro sites. This means reusing current towers, rooftop locations, power supplies, and backhaul connections.
According to the analysis, this strategy could result in a threefold increase in cell capacity. The gain comes from combining wider bandwidth with improved spectral efficiency from advanced antenna systems. However, this figure is based on modeling assumptions rather than live field data.
Speed targets and rollout timeline
e& UAE holds a specific allocation of 350 MHz within this range. The operator plans to deploy a high-density antenna system designed to deliver peak downlink speeds of up to 10 Gbps. The commercial rollout is scheduled for the second half of 2026.
This deployment aims to serve as a capacity layer within the current 5.5G network footprint. It is not intended to replace existing mid-band spectrum but to complement it by handling high-density traffic in urban centers.
Coverage limitations and trade-offs
Higher frequencies typically suffer from weaker signal penetration and shorter range. The study found that Upper 6 GHz coverage remains within 2% to 5% of current mid-band performance in most outdoor scenarios. In dense indoor environments, the difference was approximately 3%.
While the modeling suggests these penalties are manageable, real-world performance depends on device capabilities and specific network conditions. The partners emphasize that these are theoretical estimates, and actual user experience may vary based on final hardware and spectrum assignments.
