e& Launches 5.5G in the UAE, Marking a New Era of Mobile Connectivity
Hatem Dowidar, Group Chief Executive Officer of e& (Etisalat), announced that the company has officially gone live with 5.5G, also known as 5G-Advanced, in the UAE — positioning the nation at the forefront of next-generation connectivity.
According to Dowidar, the launch of 5.5G represents a major leap in mobile technology, offering higher speeds, enhanced intelligence, and greater precision. The advanced network enables ultra-low latency, massive-scale IoT, and network slicing capabilities that allow industries to operate dedicated, high-performance services with guaranteed quality.
“5.5G is e& UAE’s forward step, laying the foundation for infrastructure that will support autonomous mobility, XR, holograms, and real-time decision-making at scale,” Dowidar said.
He emphasized that 5.5G serves as a vital building block toward the future of 6G by 2030. Developed with artificial intelligence at its core, the network is designed to power safer cities, smarter logistics, faster healthcare, and lower-carbon operations.
Dowidar also praised the efforts of e&’s engineers and technical teams, highlighting their role in delivering “something truly foundational” for the region’s digital future.
With this milestone, the UAE strengthens its position as a global leader in advanced telecommunications, paving the way for innovative applications that will transform daily life and business operations.