e& UAE is preparing to roll out what it describes as the world’s first commercial mobile network using Upper 6GHz 256TRX Giga-MIMO technology, a development that places the UAE operator deeper into the global race to build the network layers expected to support 5G-Advanced and, eventually, 6G.
The company said that it has awarded a contract to a strategic infrastructure partner for the deployment, with commercial launch planned for the second half of 2026. The network will use the 6425–6775 MHz spectrum range, giving e& UAE up to 350 MHz of bandwidth in the Upper 6GHz band.
The Importance of Upper 6GHz
The Upper 6GHz band has become one of the most closely watched spectrum ranges in mobile network planning because it sits between traditional mid-band 5G spectrum and higher-frequency millimeter-wave bands. In practical terms, that makes it attractive for operators trying to add capacity in dense urban areas without relying only on smaller, more complex high-frequency deployments.
e& UAE said the network will combine Upper 6GHz spectrum with 256TRX Giga-MIMO technology. TRX refers to transmit-and-receive radio chains, and a higher number of these chains can increase antenna capability at each site. According to the company, the setup is designed to improve capacity, beamforming, interference management and service quality in high-traffic areas.
The technology is being positioned as part of the operator’s 5G-Advanced evolution rather than a full 6G launch. The global 6G standardization process is still underway, with the International Telecommunication Union using the term IMT-2030 for the next generation of international mobile telecommunications.
Speeds and Network Claims
e& UAE said the new network layer is designed to deliver peak speeds of up to 10 Gbps downlink and 1 Gbps uplink. The company also said advanced beamforming will help reduce coverage challenges commonly associated with higher-frequency spectrum, with coverage levels intended to be comparable to existing 3.5 GHz C-band sites.
The figures show how much additional capacity e& UAE is aiming to bring into its mobile network. In everyday use, the experience will depend on the devices people use, where they connect, how busy the network is and how widely the new layer is deployed.
e& UAE is working to add a new high-capacity layer to its mobile network before 6G becomes commercially standardized. That could give the operator more room to support data-heavy services, including immersive media, smart-city applications, industrial automation and AI-enabled network functions.
Tied to the UAE’s 6G Roadmap
The deployment also fits into the UAE’s broader policy push around next-generation connectivity. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, or TDRA, unveiled the country’s 6G roadmap in 2024, framing IMT-2030 as part of the UAE’s long-term digital infrastructure strategy.
TDRA said at the time that its roadmap was designed to support research and studies around IMT-2030, bridge the gap between current communications services and future requirements, and help build a more digitally integrated way of life. e& UAE’s Upper 6GHz deployment now gives that strategy a commercial network milestone, even as the global standards process continues.
Marwan Bin Shakar, Chief Technology Officer at e& UAE, called the deployment “a major step in e& UAE’s network evolution,” adding that it would support today’s 5G-Advanced experience while preparing the architecture needed for 6G.
Commercial Significance for e&
The rollout gives e& UAE a technology-led story at a time when Gulf telecom operators are competing not only on consumer mobile services but also on enterprise connectivity, cloud infrastructure, data centers, AI use cases and national digital transformation projects.
Capacity is becoming a strategic issue. Consumers are using more video and cloud-based applications, while enterprises are exploring private networks, automation, connected devices and low-latency services. Operators that can add more capacity without rebuilding every part of their network may be better positioned to support these demands.
The GSMA has described 6GHz as important to mobile evolution, saying the band can support city-wide capacity on existing network grids and may be used for 5G-Advanced or 6G. That industry context helps explain why a commercial Upper 6GHz deployment is being treated as more than a routine network upgrade.
Not Yet a 6G Launch
The announcement should not be read as e& UAE launching commercial 6G services. ITU work on IMT-2030 remains in progress. In March 2026, the ITU said mobile communications experts had agreed on draft technical performance requirements for IMT-2030, with formal approval expected later through the relevant study-group process.
That means e& UAE’s project is best understood as a bridge: a commercial 5G-Advanced network layer designed to prepare for future 6G-era requirements. It may help test how high-capacity spectrum, massive antenna systems and advanced beamforming perform in live network conditions before 6G specifications are finalized and commercial 6G devices become widely available.
Building for the Next Network Cycle
Telecom infrastructure cycles are long. Spectrum planning, site upgrades, device ecosystems and enterprise use cases develop over years, not months. By moving Upper 6GHz 256TRX Giga-MIMO from technical validation into planned commercial deployment, e& UAE is trying to secure an early position in the next phase of mobile network evolution.
The practical benefits for customers will depend on rollout scale, compatible devices, pricing and how quickly advanced services make use of the additional capacity. The broader signal, however, is already visible: the UAE’s telecom sector is treating 6G readiness as a present-day infrastructure issue, not a distant research topic.
Delivered as planned in the second half of 2026, e& UAE’s Upper 6GHz deployment could become one of the region’s most closely watched mobile network upgrades, especially for operators and regulators studying how today’s 5G-Advanced networks can evolve toward the IMT-2030 era.
