du in collaboration with Nokia and MediaTek has announced integration and enhancement of 5G technologies in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). This innovative trial has successfully boosted uplink (UL) performance by 70% on du’s 5G Advanced network, simultaneously offering expanded indoor coverage to premium customers. Executed in Abu Dhabi utilizing du’s operational 5G Advanced network, the trial achieved significant advancements in UL speeds and coverage.
Hasan Alshemeili, Head of Infra Technology Planning, du, said, “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, Mobile Networks, Middle East, Nokia, said, “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.”
Dr. Ho-Chi Hwang, General Manager of Wireless Communication System and Partnerships, MediaTek, said, “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.”
The trial featured a pioneering technique employing three transmitter antennas (3Tx) combined with 2-component Carrier Aggregation (2CC) across FDD and TDD bands, incorporating TDD UL MIMO on du’s existing infrastructure. Nokia’s role spanned the deployment of its state-of-the-art AirScale portfolio inclusive of baseband, Massive MIMO radios, and macro remote radio heads to boost capacity, coverage, and performance. MediaTek contributed its advanced T830 5G mobile FWA platform, further exemplifying the collaborative effort that spearheaded this achievement.
