Dubai: e& UAE (Etisalat) has announced a major upgrade to its live 5.5G mobile network by deploying 4-carrier aggregation on commercially available smartphones, marking a significant milestone in the country’s telecom infrastructure.
4-carrier aggregation is an advanced mobile network technology that enables smartphones to use four different network channels simultaneously, instead of relying on a single connection. This effectively merges multiple parallel internet paths into one wider and faster data lane, resulting in higher download speeds, smoother streaming, and improved real-world performance.
The technology is expected to be particularly beneficial in high-density locations such as shopping malls, stadiums, and public venues where network congestion is common.
According to the company, supported devices can achieve peak download speeds exceeding 4 gigabits per second. The upgrade combines two spectrum types — Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), which offers broader and more reliable coverage, and Time Division Duplex (TDD), which delivers higher data capacity. Together, they are designed to enhance practical mobile performance rather than just headline speeds.
e& officials said the upgrade will also strengthen network capacity and efficiency, enabling support for high-bandwidth applications such as 8K video streaming, cloud gaming, and advanced enterprise solutions.
Demand for 5.5G-enabled services on smartphones and network equipment is already increasing, with the technology currently active in selected areas across the UAE and planned for further expansion starting in 2026.
Commenting on the development, Abdul Rahman Al Humaidan, Senior Vice President – Access Network Development at e& UAE, said the move reinforces the operator’s 5.5G network by delivering sustained multi-gigabit speeds and enhanced capacity nationwide, positioning the UAE at the forefront of next-generation mobile connectivity.
