UAE telecom upgrades to high‑capacity networks

In July 2026, e& UAE activated 1024QAM modulation on its commercial 5G network, becoming the first Middle Eastern operator to offer multi‑gigabit speeds of up to 4.58 Gbps. The upgrade, part of its 5G‑Advanced roadmap, was presented as a step toward AI‑driven services, immersive experiences and future 6G capabilities.

A few weeks later, in early August 2026, the same operator announced the deployment of a next‑generation Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) backbone built with Ciena’s optical and software solutions. The new network, featuring 1.6 Tb/s coherent optics and advanced control software, is intended to meet rising bandwidth demand across the Middle East, supporting cloud services, data‑centre interconnectivity, hyperscale workloads and emerging digital applications. Together, the radio‑access upgrade and the high‑capacity optical backbone illustrate e& UAE’s coordinated effort to expand both the speed and scalability of the region’s telecommunications infrastructure.