- White paper issued jointly by TDRA, e& UAE, Khalifa University and NYU Abu Dhabi
- Research finds that Upper 6 GHz can deliver around three times the capacity of C-band at comparable coverage, using existing sites
Abu Dhabi, September, 2026: The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), e& UAE, Khalifa University of Science and Technology and NYU Abu Dhabi today jointly published “The Golden 6 GHz Band,” a white paper presenting engineering evidence that Upper 6 GHz (U6GHz) can carry significantly more traffic than today’s mid-band spectrum using existing cell sites.
The publication accompanies the UAE’s move to bring the “golden band” of U6GHz from trials into commercial use, paving the way for faster, higher-capacity wireless connectivity and future 6G services in the UAE.
The TDRA was among the first regulators globally to identify the full U6GHz range for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) in the UAE National Frequency Plan, following World Radiocommunication Conference 2023’s (WRC-23) identification of 6425–7125 MHz for IMT across International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Region 1.
Within this wider range, e& UAE’s allocation is 6425–6775 MHz, providing up to 350 MHz of contiguous spectrum. That regulatory clarity enabled e& UAE to proceed with its commercial 256TRX Giga-MIMO deployment, which is designed to deliver peak downlink speeds of up to 10 Gbps and is slated for launch in the second half of 2026. In parallel, Khalifa University and NYU Abu Dhabi Wireless Center conducted the joint modelling and analysis behind the published results.
What the study found:
- Coverage parity. Across dense-urban, urban, suburban and rural outdoor environments, U6GHz reach stays within 2–5 per cent of 3.5 GHz C-band. The higher-frequency propagation penalty is compensated by the Giga-MIMO radio system. In the most demanding dense-urban indoor case modelled, U6GHz remains within approximately three per cent of C-band reach
- A ~1.5× spectral-efficiency gain, independent of bandwidth, from the 256TRX array together with its beamforming, MU-MIMO pairing and scheduling.
- Approximately 3× cell capacity when 200 MHz of U6GHz is compared with a 100 MHz C-band carrier — the 1.5× efficiency gain combined with a 2× bandwidth ratio. This is consistent with independent third-party analyses.
- The commercial system combines e& UAE’s allocation of up to 350 MHz of contiguous U6GHz spectrum with 256TRX Giga-MIMO and is designed for peak downlink speeds of up to 10 Gbps.
Results are modelled under stated assumptions; commercial performance depends on deployment conditions, spectrum assignment and device capability.
From an operator perspective, the white paper positions U6GHz as a capacity overlay deployed directly over e& UAE’s existing 5.5G network footprint. The radio layer can be co-sited with the existing capacity C-band macro grid, reusing existing tower and rooftop positions, power, transport and site infrastructure, with backhaul upgraded where required. This approach can reduce the need for network densification while lowering cost-per-bit as capacity scales.
“Regulatory certainty is what turns research into infrastructure. By identifying Upper 6 GHz for IMT early, we gave the UAE ecosystem the confidence to invest ahead of the field. Publishing this work jointly, with our operator and university partners, reflects how we believe spectrum policy should be developed — on evidence and in the open.”
— Mr. Tariq Al Awadhi, Executive Director, Spectrum Affairs, TDRA
“Moving from trial to commercial deployment is a significant engineering step. The value for our customers is significantly higher speeds, greater capacity, and a far more consistent, reliable experience even in the highest-traffic areas. We are publishing our results alongside our partners so the wider industry can assess them.”
— Marwan Bin Shakar, Chief Technology Officer, e& UAE
“Our role was to independently evaluate the performance through rigorous modelling and analysis. The results show that the propagation penalty can be compensated for, with a spectral-efficiency gain of approximately 1.5× achievable under well-conditioned assumptions. Equally important is making the methodology available alongside the findings, allowing others to examine, validate and build on the research.” Bayan Sharif, Provost, Khalifa University
Marta Losada, Interim Provost of NYU Abu Dhabi, said: “This research reflects the strength of NYU Abu Dhabi’s work in wireless communications and our commitment to advancing research that addresses important technological challenges. Through the NYU Abu Dhabi Wireless Center, our team has contributed to understanding how new spectrum and emerging technologies can be used to expand the capacity of future networks. The findings demonstrate how rigorous research at NYU Abu Dhabi can help lay the foundation for technologies that will shape how we connect and communicate in the years ahead.”
The white paper also sets out a use-case roadmap spanning Connect Home, Connect Industry, and Connect Consumer & Vehicle, including fibre-like fixed wireless broadband, high-bandwidth enterprise and public-sector applications, AI-enabled home experiences and connected vehicles.
A national ecosystem contributing internationally
This collaboration builds on a growing body of industry–academia UAE 6G work: TDRA’s national roadmap “6G: Next-Generation Connectivity in the UAE,” the e& UAE–NYU Abu Dhabi white paper “Building the Fabric of 6G,” and the e& UAE–Khalifa University paper “6G AI-Native Networks,” which contributes to ITU IMT-2030 and 3GPP Release 21+ discussions.
Internationally, more than 60 operators, vendors, chipset providers and device manufacturers have signed the GSMA’s “Upper 6 GHz Readiness and the Future of Mobile” statement. TDRA plans to include U6GHz (n104) requirements in national type-approval specifications, with commercial device availability expected from September 2026.
Technical notes:
- Upper 6 GHz (U6GHz): The upper portion of the 6 GHz spectrum, which can be used to provide additional capacity for 5G and future 6G networks. Combined with advanced antenna technologies, it can support significantly greater capacity than existing mid-band spectrum while making use of existing cell sites.
- Giga-MIMO: A term used to describe next-generation, ultra-large antenna arrays designed to provide substantially greater capacity and more precise signal transmission for beyond-5G and future 6G networks.
- 256TRX Giga-MIMO: A Giga-MIMO antenna system featuring 256 active transmit and receive channels. The large number of channels enables highly precise beamforming and allows the network to support greater overall capacity.
- MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output): A wireless technology that enables a base station equipped with multiple antennas to communicate with several users simultaneously using the same time and frequency resources.
About e& UAE:
e& UAE is a leading AI-powered telco and digital enabler, building on five decades of network leadership to deliver secure, high-performance connectivity and customer-focused innovation for individuals, homes, businesses and government entities.
It combines fixed and mobile connectivity with digital platforms, AI-enabled solutions, cloud, cybersecurity, IoT and entertainment. Through this integrated approach, e& UAE helps enrich everyday life, enhance business performance and enable organisations to operate with greater agility, efficiency and resilience.
e& UAE supports the country’s digital economy by enabling smarter communities, connected industries and future-ready infrastructure. With a focus on customer experience, technology adoption and sustainable value creation, e& UAE continues to help people, businesses and communities thrive in a digital-first world.
About Khalifa University of Science and Technology
Khalifa University of Science and Technology, the UAE’s top-ranked research-intensive institution, focuses on developing world leaders and critical thinkers in science, engineering and health science. The world-class university endeavors to be a catalyst to the growth of Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s rapidly developing knowledge economy as an education destination of choice and a global leader among widely acknowledged international universities.
