du Achieves 3.5Gbps Speeds on UAE 5G+
UAE telecom operator du has deployed a 5G-Advanced network at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. The deployment, carried out with Huawei, delivers speeds exceeding 3.5 Gbps across the mall.
The network covers all floors of the Majid Al Futtaim destination. Meanwhile, it aims to improve connectivity for visitors, retailers and digital services.
The deployment includes more than 150 strategically positioned antennas. These antennas provide consistent coverage across major and smaller areas of the mall.
5G+ Delivers Higher Indoor Capacity
The new network uses three-band carrier aggregation with 300 MHz of combined bandwidth on a single antenna. This includes 200 MHz on the N78 band and 100 MHz on the N41 band.
As a result, DU reported more than 50% higher data throughput than conventional 5G Non-Standalone networks. The increased capacity can support high-bandwidth applications across the mall.
For example, users can access high-definition streaming and cloud-based services more reliably. Retailers can also support real-time digital experiences and connected operations.
Moreover, the deployment uses advanced pRRU technology. This technology helps address connectivity requirements in large indoor environments with heavy visitor traffic.
Indoor networks face particular challenges because walls, structures and crowd density can affect signal quality. Therefore, improving antenna placement and spectrum use becomes important in large commercial destinations.
Supporting Connected Retail Experiences
The upgraded network is designed to strengthen the digital experience at Mall of the Emirates. Visitors increasingly rely on mobile connectivity for payments, entertainment, navigation and other digital services.
At the same time, retailers need reliable networks for connected systems and data-driven operations. The higher capacity can therefore support a wider range of digital tools across the shopping destination.
Saleem Alblooshi, Chief Technology Officer at du, said indoor connectivity has become essential to major retail and entertainment destinations. He added that the deployment demonstrates how 5G+ can provide greater speed, capacity and consistency.
The collaboration with Huawei and Majid Al Futtaim also forms part of du’s wider investment in advanced network infrastructure. Consequently, the operator is expanding 5G-Advanced capabilities across major commercial and public locations in the UAE.
du has continued to invest in next-generation connectivity as demand for high-performance indoor networks grows. In September, the company announced the world’s first six-carrier aggregation deployment on a commercial 5G-Advanced network, supporting its longer-term 5G+ and 6G readiness efforts.
The Mall of the Emirates deployment adds another practical application for 5G-Advanced technology. More importantly, it shows how higher-capacity indoor networks can support both consumer services and increasingly connected retail environments.
