Etisalat, the leading telecom operator in the U.A.E., has tested and begun a phased upgrade of its network to the futuristic 4G Advanced (LTE-A) tri-band technology based on carrier aggregation technology, for the first time in the region.
A live testing on the network has successfully concluded, making way for ultra-speeds of 700Mbps mobile broadband connectivity and ensuring network readiness once handsets are commercially available, it said in statement yesterday.
LTE carrier aggregation is the next step in the evolution of high-speed mobile broadband services, enabling operators to make the most of their existing spectrum assets by combining multiple spectrum bands to enable higher mobile broadband download speeds.
As an integrated technology enabler, Etisalat has adopted a holistic approach towards building a smart infrastructure that can boost communication and services between people, businesses and government.
The telecom operator has established the region’s most solid, future-ready 3G and 4G LTE networks to meet the growing needs of the U.A.E.’s highly connected environment and to boost customer experience.
“In coming months, our LTE 4G Network will cover 88 percent of the U.A.E.’s populated area and provide the country’s fastest mobile internet at speeds of up to 150 Mbps. A few months ago, we successfully conducted a live testing for potential speeds of up to 300 Mbps on our 4G LTE network. We are extremely thrilled today to be the first in the region to trial our 4G LTE-A network for future speeds of up to 700 Mbps. It is most definitely Etisalat’s move forward to rolling out the region’s first fifth-generation (5G) network,” said Saeed Al Zarouni, Senior Vice President, Business Planning and Technology Evolution, Etisalat .
Source : WAM News Agency for United Arab Emirates
