DUBAI — The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the United Arab Emirates announced the allocation of a new frequency band that allows telecom operators in the country to expand the application of 5G, in line with the decisions of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019.

Frequencies in the millimeter-wave range between 24.25 - 27.5 GHz have been allocated to the development of 5G networks, which strengthens the UAE’s leading position in the region, as the first in the Middle East and North Africa to allocate this range.

The band will be allocated in two phases based on equipment availability. The first phase has already started on Sept. 1, 2020, in which the frequency band 26.5-27.5 GHz was allocated to the operators. The second phase will start in the third quarter of 2021, through which 1 GHz will be allocated per operator in the (25.5 - 27.5 GHz) range.

The new 1 GHz bandwidth will provide each of the mobile operators with an opportunity to enhance and develop wireless broadband services using 5G technologies in terms of speed and data volume compared to 4G. It will also provide other additional features such as higher rates to transfer data per second and enhanced communications capacity per square kilometer while ensuring the quality of services and increasing performance efficiency compared to previous generations.

TRA also confirmed that 5G deployment in the UAE by the licensees complies with guidelines on limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields approved by recognized international organizations such as the World Health Organisation, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and in line with TRA’s framework for non-ionizing radiation limits for telecommunication networks.

Commenting on this decision, Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA director-general, said: "This decision comes in line with the UAE strategy for 5G and beyond (2020-2025), as the provision of the frequency spectrum for 5G contributes to building a high-standard global communication platform and enabling the UAE to use and apply the latest ICT, to provide global standards services, achieve long-term social and economic benefits in various areas such as manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, and education.

Moreover, this initiative comes as a result of international coordination and technical studies that have lasted more than 4 years, which highlights the importance of international coordination and harmony in providing access to this important part of the spectrum."

He added: "We spare no effort to develop the telecommunications sector and achieve equitable access to the required resources of the frequency spectrum, to promote the deployment of 5G in the UAE, and thus develop smart services, accelerate the process of digital transformation and achieve sustainable development goals." — WAM