du highlighted that 5G SA will allow local enterprises to leverage network-slicing technology

United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrier du confirmed the launch of its 5G Standalone (5G SA) network in the contry.

The Arab telco said that the adoption of 5G SA technology brings many benefits to consumers and enterprises, including faster download speeds, smoother media streaming and overall improved network performance. Furthermore, du highlighted that 5G SA will allow local enterprises to leverage network-slicing technology to customize network applications according to their specific needs.

“The 5G Standalone technology is more than just an upgrade; it’s a fundamental shift in how data is transmitted and processed. Unlike previous generations, this technology enables network slicing, edge computing and mobile private network, allowing for personalized solutions and new use cases in real-time analytics, public safety, and even remote healthcare,” the telco said in a release.

“It provides customers with a better and more consistent service experience. It’s not merely about speed and latency; it’s about creating a smarter, more responsive infrastructure for tomorrow’s technological demands,” the telco added.

The Arab telco also noted that 5G SA technology plays a crucial role in various sectors and applications, as it enables real-time responsiveness for gaming, medical services, Industry 4.0, industrial IoT, VR, AR, public safety and Voice over New Radio (VoNR).

Du also highlighted that enhanced Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) connectivity offers significant benefits particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Last week, Finnish vendor Nokia and du announced the conclusion of what it claimed to be UAE’s first 5G-Advanced 5G Reduced Capability (RedCap) trial over a commercial network.

The partners said that this recent trial showcased the readiness of du’s 5G network for innovative use cases in areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT), wearables and Industry 4.0 to address 5G monetization challenges.

RedCap, sometimes referred to as NR Light, is a reduced set of 5G capabilities intended for devices like wearables and low-cost hotspots that have low battery consumption, lower costs and lower bandwidth requirements. Introduced with 3GPP Release 17, 5G RedCap is designed for devices currently served by LTE CAT-4 but provides equivalent or better in performance with up to 150 Mbps theoretical maximum downlink throughput. This technology helps reduce the complexity, cost and size of 5G devices.

Nokia and du trialed MediaTek’s T300 series RedCap test equipment in the carrier’s 5G Standalone (SA) radio access network (RAN) built with Nokia’s AirScale radio products, leveraging existing mid-band spectrum.

The two companies also noted that following this trial, they will extend RedCap over low-band frequencies with the aim of ensuring a high level of coverage and connectivity.