The e& UAE U6GHz network is live, with single-user peaks of up to 10 Gbps down and 1 Gbps up. It uses 256TRX Giga-MIMO on e&’s 6425–6775 MHz allocation, adding up to 350 MHz to its existing 5.5G network, GCC Business News reports.
In a 29 September press release, e& called it the world’s first live commercial mobile network using U6GHz. Its June announcement described a rollout contract and a planned H2 launch; this update says the service is active.
e& UAE U6GHz network: launch details
| Network detail | e& UAE specification |
|---|---|
| Spectrum | 6425–6775 MHz (Upper 6 GHz) |
| Bandwidth | Up to 350 MHz contiguous |
| Radio system | 256TRX Giga-MIMO, versus conventional 64TRX 5G configurations |
| Single-user peak | Up to 10 Gbps downlink; 1 Gbps uplink |
| Single-cell throughput | More than 50 Gbps using commercial TDD bands |
These are e&’s single-user peak specifications, not a promise of 10 Gbps on a handset. The release lists no typical speeds, compatible devices, customer eligibility or plan changes.
e& says beamforming gives U6GHz site-level coverage comparable to its 3.5 GHz C-band network. A joint TDRA, e&, Khalifa University and NYU Abu Dhabi study modelled U6GHz reach within 2–5 per cent of C-band outdoors. Its roughly three-times capacity comparison uses 200 MHz of U6GHz against 100 MHz of C-band — a model result, not a live-network measurement. NYU Abu Dhabi published the findings on 24 September.
A 5G-Advanced upgrade, not a 6G launch
The e& UAE U6GHz network runs over its existing 5.5G footprint as a 5G-Advanced capacity layer, preparing for future 6G standards. It is not a 6G service launch. That differs from du’s earlier 6G blueprint, which described a future network architecture. Another UAE 5G-Advanced buildout is du’s six-carrier aggregation deployment.
The deployment is part of the UAE’s national 6G roadmap, led by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority; the customer-facing network remains 5G-Advanced.
“We have moved from technical validation to a live commercial reality that significantly elevates the 5G-Advanced experience for our customers today, while operationalising the native architecture needed for 6G.”
Marwan Bin Shakar, chief technology officer, e& UAE
Can existing 5G phones use the e& UAE U6GHz network?
Only devices that support the U6GHz band can use it. e& has not named compatible models or published customer eligibility with the launch, so a 5G badge alone does not confirm access.
Does comparable site coverage mean U6GHz covers every part of the UAE?
No. e& did not publish a coverage map or site count. Its claim compares U6GHz site-level coverage with existing 3.5 GHz C-band sites; it is not a promise of blanket nationwide coverage.
