United Arab Emirates Conducts Pioneering 5G Tests on 6 GHz and 600 MHz Spectrum, Paving the Way for 6G Technology Advancements
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has made a significant leap forward in next-gen wireless innovation, following successful tests of 5G connectivity using commercial-grade customer premises equipment (CPE) on the 6 GHz and 600 MHz spectrum bands.
These trials, initiated by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), have reinforced the UAE's leadership in the evolving 5G landscape. The tests have achieved extended 5G coverage beyond 6 km using the 600 MHz band, and ultra-fast speeds of up to 10 Gbps over the 6 GHz band.
For businesses, these trials unlock scalable, flexible connectivity for data-heavy applications like cloud computing, AI analytics, and smart city solutions. They will enable 8K UHD streaming, virtual reality, and wide-scale industrial IoT deployment, transforming both residential and enterprise connectivity.
The TDRA's spectrum allocations aim to enhance the UAE's digital infrastructure, and the integration of C-band, 6 GHz, and 600 MHz is building a robust, future-ready 5G ecosystem.
The global economic impact of 5G is forecasted to be substantial. A GSMA Intelligence study predicts that 5G will contribute over US$610 billion to global GDP by 2030. Mid-band spectrum like 6 GHz is expected to drive 65% of that growth, according to the study. However, the exact contribution of the UAE to the global GDP growth from 5G is not specified in the study.
By 2030, 5G is projected to contribute at least $1.3 to $1.4 trillion to regional GDP in Asia Pacific alone. The global economic output from 5G-powered solutions is expected to exceed $1.3 trillion by 2030, according to Deloitte.
While mid-band spectrum like 6 GHz is crucial for 5G's economic impact, providing a balance of coverage and capacity that supports wide adoption and advanced use cases, the reports indicate that rising spectrum costs pose challenges and could slow deployment and economic gains unless addressed collaboratively by governments and industry. Investments in 5G networks, including spectrum acquisition and infrastructure, have already reached hundreds of billions of dollars and will continue with over $254 billion planned through 2030 in Asia Pacific alone.
Marwan Bin Shakar, Acting CTO of e& UAE, made a statement about the tests, calling them a significant milestone in the evolution of 5G connectivity in the UAE. These advancements are expected to transform both residential and enterprise connectivity, reinforcing the UAE's position as a global leader in digital innovation.
[1] GSMA Intelligence (2021). The 5G Economy: Asia Pacific 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.gsma.com/r/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/The-5G-Economy-Asia-Pacific-2021.pdf
[2] Deloitte (2020). The Economic Impact of 5G: A Deloitte Analysis. [Online]. Available: https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/about-deloitte/us-consulting/deloitte-us-consulting-the-economic-impact-of-5g-a-deloitte-analysis.pdf
[3] ITU (2021). 5G Deployments: Key Statistics. [Online]. Available: https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/5G/Pages/5G-deployments-key-statistics.aspx
[5] GSMA Intelligence (2021). The 5G Economy: Global 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.gsma.com/r/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/The-5G-Economy-Global-2021.pdf
- The UAE's leadership in 5G innovation, as demonstrated by the successful tests of 5G connectivity, positions the country to spearhead digital transformation in both residential and enterprise sectors, aligning with global predictions of substantial economic growth from 5G.
- The integration of mid-band spectrum like the 6 GHz band in the UAE's digital infrastructure, driven by the TDRA's spectrum allocations, is anticipated to contribute significantly to the global GDP by 2030, making the UAE a key player in the 5G-powered future.
- Collaborative efforts between governments and industry, particularly addressing rising spectrum costs, are crucial to ensuring the full economic potential of 5G technologies is realized, as demonstrated by global investments totaling hundreds of billions of dollars in 5G networks, including the UAE and Asia Pacific regions.
