UAE announces 6G initiative

Details: Vaughan O'Grady; Category: Regulation; 11 November 2025; 21639 views

The United Arab Emirates regulator, The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), has announced the launch of what it calls the 6th Generation (6G) Initiative in the country.

The announcement was made during the recent inaugural meeting of the 6G Committee, hosted by TDRA with the participation of key partners from federal and local government entities, telecommunications service providers, universities, research and development centres, and leading global mobile technology providers.

The meeting was opened by HE Eng Mohammed Al Ramsi, Deputy Director General of the Telecommunications Sector at TDRA, who pointed out that the country launched 5G in 2019 – making the UAE the first country in the region to achieve this milestone. Today coverage exceeds 99.5% of populated areas, with more than 23,000 5G sites serving over 10 million subscribers.

He added: “These achievements pave the way for a new phase in which we work with our partners to develop a national 6G roadmap that will revolutionise connectivity by integrating digital and cognitive worlds, leveraging artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and satellite networks to enable the applications of the future… We are building on a legacy of innovation and achievement, striving together towards a hyper-connected smart society that fosters innovation and national prosperity.”

Through this initiative, the committee aims to develop a comprehensive national 6G ecosystem by strengthening collaboration among national partners, establishing research and innovation programmes in future communications through universities and research centres, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in key sectors, and supporting the development of international 6G standards and specifications. Additionally, the initiative seeks to establish a robust regulatory framework and integrated spectrum management approach to meet the requirements of the next technological era.

Two specialised subcommittees have already been formed to support the main committee’s objectives: a Research and Development Working Group and an Integration and a Strategic Partnerships Working Group.