Revolutionizing 5G Connectivity: du, Nokia and MediaTek Achieve Breakthrough In MEA Network Efficiency

du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), in collaboration with Nokia and MediaTek, has announced a significant advancement in 5G technology for the Middle East and Africa (MEA). This pioneering trial has enhanced uplink (UL) performance by 70% on du's 5G Advanced network, while also improving indoor coverage for premium customers.

Executed in Abu Dhabi using du's operational 5G Advanced network, the trial achieved notable improvements in UL speeds and coverage. This technology integrates multiple frequency bands and enhances transmission pathways, essential for high-demand applications like video conferencing, live streaming, and large data uploads.

The trial featured an innovative technique employing three transmitter antennas (3Tx) combined with 2-component Carrier Aggregation (2CC) across FDD and TDD bands. It also incorporated TDD UL MIMO on du's existing infrastructure. Nokia deployed its AirScale portfolio, including baseband, Massive MIMO radios, and macro remote radio heads to boost capacity, coverage, and performance. MediaTek contributed its advanced T830 5G mobile FWA platform.

Hasan Alshemeili, Head of Infra Technology Planning at du, stated: "This trial not only accelerates the uplink performance of our network but also aligns with our ongoing commitment to enhance customer connectivity since our initial 5G launch in 2019. Our continuous upgrades to our state-of-the-art network infrastructure ensure an unmatched 5G user experience."

Mohamed Samir, Vice President of Mobile Networks for the Middle East at Nokia, commented: "This trial underscores our commitment to leading-edge technological solutions that cater to and exceed the dynamic needs of our connected societies. Our technologies are designed to empower mobile operators to maximize radio network performance effectively."

Carrier Aggregation is crucial for mobile operators as it allows them to optimize their spectrum and network resources. This optimization leads to increased data rates and improved coverage extensively.

Dr. Ho-Chi Hwang, General Manager of Wireless Communication System and Partnerships at MediaTek, added: "Our joint trial sets a significant benchmark in the region and reaffirms MediaTek's dedication to advancing wireless communication technology. Our T830 platform, now accessible to customers, leads the market with its proven high-performance capabilities."