LTE-FDD goes live in the UAE

Details: James Barton; Category: Wireless Networks; 06 October 2011; 9108 views

Etisalat has launched an LTE-FDD mobile network in the UAE...

Etisalat has launched an LTE-FDD mobile network in the UAE. The LTE network offers speeds exceeding 100 MB/s and is particularly effective when utilising large amounts of data, such as watching high definition movies, playing online multiplayer games, using social applications and utilising other bandwidth-intensive applications.

The new technologies will be made available from launch to customers across key areas of the UAE. Over 700 base stations have been renovated and equipped to provide 4G services in the country, with up to 1,000 operational base stations planned by the end of this year.

The UAE is one of the first countries in the word to launch 4G, and Etisalat aims to extend coverage to the rest of the country.

Etisalat’s acting CEO Nasser Bin Obood said that the project represented a long-term infrastructure investment aimed at supporting sustainable development. “Advanced telecommunications are a key basis for a developed society, and this 4G network can contribute to developing various sectors including education, finance, healthcare as well as the economic and business sectors, the latter of which will be a direct beneficiary of 4G,” he said.

Matthew Willsher, Chief Marketing Officer for Etisalat, highlighted the importance of this service and its contribution in enhancing mobile broadband services. “There has been a tremendous surge in both subscriber numbers and data usage. Smartphones are growing at almost 90 percent a year. LTE technology will deliver customers the dual benefits of super fast data speeds and much lower latency.”

Ali Al Ahmed, Etisalat’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer stated that the telecommunications development in the last century cannot compare to what has been achieved in the last decade alone where 3G and 4G was developed. “We’ve witnessed the positive impact of the 3G network. LTE will now bring in new waves of innovation, transforming our customer’s digital lifestyles,” Al Ahmed said.