Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has designated an additional 500 MHz radio spectrum of 6 GHz band (specifically 5925-6425 MHz) to Wi-Fi for indoor use at an EIRP of 250 mW
With this latest addition, on December 28,2020, the UAE has become the first country in the MENA region to release additional 500 MHz of radio spectrum frequency in the 6 GHz band to the total spectrum of approximately 11.5 GHz (in 2.4, 5, 5.8 & 60 GHz bands) already available for Wi-Fi.
This new addition will significantly boost the speed of indoor wireless networks in the UAE, helping to keep up with the increasing use of Wi-Fi services by individuals, companies and different business sectors for day-to-day activities, and to accommodate new applications which drive demand for faster speeds and greater reliability. Today, Wi-Fi is a critical investment that connects people to workplaces, businesses, education and healthcare.
99% of the homes in the UAE have internet access as per ITU database published in June 2020, and Wi-Fi plays an essential role in providing connectivity between users' routers and the increasing number of wireless-enabled consumer electronics devices in their homes including TVs, smart appliances, games consoles, and portable/mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, remote controllers, 3D visors, laptops etc.
The latest Wi-Fi standard promises a theoretical peak of data speeds of 10 Gbps (Gigabits per second), as well as a better management of spectrum in congested environments, faster latency, improved power efficiency and various other changes.
This is an endeavour to contribute towards the “Digital UAE”, the TRA prepared a Spectrum Outlook for the period 2020–2025, which overlays the roadmap for making available spectrum resources for different emerging wireless technologies.
