UAE Launches World’s First Commercial Upper 6GHz Network Ecosystem

The United Arab Emirates has announced the launch of the world’s first commercial upper 6GHz (U6GHz) network ecosystem, in a move aimed at accelerating next-generation connectivity and supporting the transition toward 6G technologies.

The initiative was unveiled at the SAMENA Council Leaders’ Summit 2026 and is being led by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), alongside telecom operators, equipment makers and global industry bodies.

U6GHz refers to the 6425–7125 MHz spectrum band, offering 700 MHz of contiguous bandwidth. The band is expected to support peak download speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second under 5G-Advanced standards, while enabling broader coverage than higher-frequency millimeter wave spectrum.

TDRA said the rollout would begin commercially in 2026 as part of the country’s push to become a “10 Giga intelligent nation,” calling on device manufacturers and chipmakers to accelerate support for the band.

The announcement brings together industry participants including Huawei, Nokia, e&, du, GSMA and the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, reflecting a coordinated effort to move the spectrum from trials to large-scale deployment.

Officials said the upper 6GHz band would play a central role in handling rising data demand driven by artificial intelligence, cloud computing and connected devices, while also serving as a foundation for future 6G networks.

Analysts say early deployment could give the UAE a first-mover advantage by attracting investment, shaping global standards and enabling faster adoption of emerging digital services across sectors such as finance, healthcare and manufacturing.

Operators in other markets, including Europe, China and Latin America, have conducted field trials of the band, but most countries have yet to move to full commercial rollout.