du, a leading telecommunications and digital services provider in the UAE, has achieved a prominent technological milestone by deploying an advanced 5G-Advanced indoor communication network inside the Mall of the Emirates complex in Dubai, recording stable internet speeds exceeding 3.5 Gbps throughout the center.
Table of Contents:
- Deploying 5G-Advanced in Mall of the Emirates in collaboration with Huawei
- Wide-scale indoor coverage with 150 specialized antennas
- Carrier aggregation technology and a 50% increase in throughput
- Supporting digital retail experiences and real-time interactive broadcasting
- Infrastructure investments and the future of the UAE’s digital transformation
- Frequently asked questions
Deploying 5G-Advanced in Mall of the Emirates in collaboration with Huawei
du, a subsidiary of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company, in cooperation with global technology company Huawei and Majid Al Futtaim Group, has successfully completed an advanced field deployment of an indoor communication network using the latest 5G-Advanced technologies within the Mall of the Emirates complex in Dubai, one of the premier shopping and entertainment destinations in the UAE.
This qualitative network rollout achieved superior and stable data transmission speeds exceeding 3.5 Gbps across all floors of the massive commercial complex, providing a digital infrastructure that allows visitors and retailers to enjoy an unprecedented connectivity experience keeping pace with the demands of digital services that have become a vital pillar in the modern retail sector.
Wide-scale indoor coverage with 150 specialized antennas
The engineering operations for the indoor deployment project included the installation and distribution of over 150 smart antennas carefully placed with precise geographical study across various facilities, main corridors, and sub-corridors within the commercial complex to ensure signal strength and completely eliminate dead zones or weak coverage areas.
The network relies on the latest generation of micro remote radio units, which enable the operator to achieve optimal utilization of available spectrum and provide massive capacity capable of efficiently handling the high human density and heavy data traffic witnessed at the center daily.
Carrier aggregation technology and a 50% increase in throughput
The advanced project applies tri-band carrier aggregation technology, which allows the integration of a total bandwidth of up to 300 MHz on a single transmitting antenna, distributed between 200 MHz on the n78 frequency band and 100 MHz on the n41 frequency band.
This advanced engineering contributed to a qualitative leap in data transfer rates, delivering over 50% higher throughput and speed compared to traditional non-standalone 5G network performance, providing exceptional wireless connection stability even during peak times and crowded festive seasons.
Supporting digital retail experiences and real-time interactive broadcasting
Saleem AlBlooshi, Chief Technology Officer at du, emphasized that providing ultra-fast and reliable indoor connectivity represents an indispensable necessity in major tourist and commercial destinations, explaining that the project demonstrates the capability of 5G-Advanced technologies to meet customers’ highest aspirations.
This network capacity supports an integrated suite of modern digital experiences, ranging from high-definition live streaming and augmented reality technologies to real-time store cloud computing, enabling retailers to deploy smart payment systems, real-time inventory management, and connected commerce solutions based on big data analytics.
Infrastructure investments and the future of the UAE’s digital transformation
This achievement represents a qualitative addition to the series of capital and developmental investments led by du to modernize telecommunications networks across all emirates of the country, focusing on developing infrastructure for vital locations and major economic landmarks.
This expansion helps empower government entities and business institutions to explore advanced operational models, enhancing the UAE’s position as one of the world’s most advanced countries in next-generation network readiness and supporting the objectives of national strategic plans for digital transformation and a sustainable knowledge economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What was the maximum speed recorded by the 5G-Advanced network in the Mall of the Emirates?
Answer: The network recorded a stable connection speed exceeding 3.5 Gbps across all floors of the commercial complex.
Question: How many smart antennas were installed to cover the complex?
Answer: More than 150 specialized antennas were installed and distributed to ensure integrated and seamless coverage across all main and sub-facilities.
Question: What frequency technology was used to increase network throughput by 50%?
Answer: Tri-band carrier aggregation technology with a total bandwidth of 300 MHz was used by combining the n78 and n41 bands.
