The UAE reveals ambitious plan to switch to 6G by 2030
It will enhance user experiences and facilitate innovative communication between individuals and devices
Dubai: The United Arab Emirates has revealed its ambitious plan to transition to 6G before 2030, according to the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA).
6G Roadmap
On Wednesday, the TDRA unveiled its 6G Roadmap, highlighting the anticipated advancements of 6G to support innovative use cases. These include the digital transmission of human senses such as sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell with low latency and high accuracy.
This technology is expected to revolutionize various domains, including autonomous intelligent transportation systems and transformative developments in healthcare, such as remote surgery and diagnoses.
Infrastructure
The roadmap's primary focus is to enhance digital infrastructure with a particular emphasis on harnessing 6G capabilities, which include integrated sensing, extensive coverage, and the integration of artificial intelligence. The UAE telecom operators are investing significantly in 6G and new technologies to revolutionize the industry.
Formation of Committee
To facilitate the faster adoption of 6G, the TDRA has established a committee led by Khalifa University with members comprising manufacturers, operators, and TDRA. The committee will facilitate scientific studies, research, and the development of technical standards and specifications for 6G and share these studies on global platforms like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in collaboration with International Standards and Standardisation Institutes (IEEE and 3GPP).
Advanced 5.5G Network
As 5G continues to evolve, the TDRA plans to develop the advanced 5G network (5.5G) with a targeted transition to 6G by 2030. Simultaneously, the existing capabilities of 5G will be enhanced to improve efficiency in frequency spectrum utilization, connection density, and traffic management.
Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director-General of TDRA, said the 6G Roadmap aims to enhance the UAE's global position as a hub for the new economy in collaboration with telecom service providers and other entities. "This initiative aligns with the UAE's unwavering dedication to environmental sustainability, digital inclusion, and enhancing security and privacy measures," said Al Mesmar.
Benefits of 6G
Mohammed Al Ramsi, Deputy Director-General of TDRA, confirmed that the announcement of a comprehensive plan to introduce the sixth generation of telecommunications networks is aimed at keeping up with rapid technological advancements. "This plan signifies a turning point in the evolution of the telecommunications sector as the support for 6G networks will unlock new and unprecedented use cases. It will enhance user experiences and facilitate innovative communication between individuals and devices," he said.
ICT Regulatory Sandbox
The TDRA will provide the necessary frequencies and regulatory frameworks to facilitate 6G experiments and advance the technology in an ecosystem in collaboration with the industrial, academic, and governmental sectors. This support and advanced spectrum management practices enabled by the 'ICT Regulatory Sandbox' will pave the way for the launch and widespread adoption of 6G services in the UAE before 2030.