Telecom Review Group Highlights U6GHz Role in Achieving 10Gb/s Connectivity in GCC

Driving 10 Gb/s Connectivity in GCC with U6GHz

The recent 20th Telecom Review Leaders' Summit, held on October 20-21, 2026, at the Ritz-Carlton Dubai Jumeirah Beach Residence, showcased essential discussions on enhancing connectivity in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. A key focus was the upper 6 GHz band (U6GHz) and its role in facilitating 10 Gb/s connectivity in these countries.

Moderated by Issam Eid, Group CMO and partner at Telecom Review Group, the panel included renowned experts such as Dr. Bilel Jamoussi from ITU, Jawad Abbassi from GSMA, Saif Bin Ghalita from TDRA, and others. They emphasized the critical nature of long-term frequency policies and coordinated regulatory actions for the U6GHz implementation in providing robust 10 Gb/s services.

U6GHz Implementation: A Strategic Overview

Engineer Bin Ghalita highlighted the UAE's progress in leveraging U6GHz technology for commercial services, supported by a long-term frequency allocation strategy. In 2020, 500 MHz of the 6 GHz band was designated for indoor Wi-Fi uses, and in the 2024 National Frequency Plan, an additional 700 MHz from 6.425 to 7.125 GHz was allocated for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) systems. These actions paved the way for successful commercial rollouts by major players like Etisalat and du.

"The collaboration with Huawei, a partner for over 25 years, has been pivotal in achieving tangible results with U6GHz," remarked Engineer Bin Ghalita during the discussions. He elucidated the continuing responsibilities of regulators, emphasizing that their role extends beyond frequency allocation to ensuring investments translate into societal benefits.

Global Support and Economic Benefits of U6GHz

The GSMA reported increasing global support for U6GHz as nations accounting for over 80% of the world’s population have permitted its use in mobile networks. Abbassi pointed out that a licensed model of frequency use can yield seven times greater economic benefits compared to unlicensed use. He cautioned that varying national approaches could cause market fragmentation, driving up costs in device and network development. This underlined the need for international harmonization to promote lower costs and ensure interoperability across networks.

Achieving Data Speeds of 10 Gb/s

The vast bandwidth of U6GHz allows for remarkable peak data transmission speeds. In a demonstration involving 5G-Advanced technology, du successfully achieved peak speeds of 10 Gb/s by combining U6GHz with sub-3 GHz frequencies, marking a significant milestone in UAE’s telecommunications sector. Dr. Sherif emphasized this success as essential in transitioning from 5G to the upcoming 6G technology, where the insights gained will play a key role in future commercializing efforts for 6G.

Advancements in AI and Mobile Services

Steven Liu from Huawei suggested that sectors such as Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and mobile broadband could significantly benefit from the advancements brought by U6GHz. The potential applications range from enhancing the speed of home internet services to supporting more demanding mobile applications. However, the real-world performance is contingent upon network deployment strategies and configurations.

Dr. Elnashar highlighted innovative solutions targeting enterprise applications and consumer use cases, primarily driven by AI. Initial prototypes tested in the UAE two to three years ago have already shown promising speeds of 10 Gb/s for both downloads and uploads, progressively closing the gap between wireless connectivity and fiber optics.

Omar Samman emphasized that the growing demand for AI applications necessitates efficient uplink data transmissions and low latency, reinforcing the importance of utilizing AI-driven software for proper radio access network planning.

Future Prospects Towards 6G

Following the panel, a ceremonial launch of the world’s first commercial U6GHz deployment was conducted, attended by prominent industry leaders including Allen Tang from Huawei and Telecom Review Group's Toni Eid. This event underscored that U6GHz technology in the UAE has surpassed the planning phase and is now commercially viable, marking a significant stride towards achieving 10 Gb/s connectivity aspirations across the GCC.

Successful implementation rests on integrated infrastructure, unified standards, device accessibility, and sustained investments, which will be crucial in realizing the full potential of U6GHz within the region and its transition towards 6G technology.