L-Band spectrum at 1.54GHz enhances coverage and capacity
du has announced it is the first operator worldwide to roll out commercial 5G-Advanced (5G-A) services using L-Band (1.4 GHz) spectrum. The deployment is expected to boost spectrum efficiency, network capacity and the consistency and reliability of customer experience.
The L-Band frequency offers a balance between broad-area reach and network throughput, thanks to superior radio propagation characteristics that allow signals to penetrate buildings more effectively and travel greater distances outdoors. These properties help the operator bridge coverage shortfalls in densely populated urban zones, less developed suburban areas, and indoor locations.
The rollout opens the door to new applications for du, including enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), fixed wireless access (FWA), massive IoT deployments and AI-driven digital offerings. The L-Band deployment complements du's existing 5G-Advanced infrastructure, which already supports ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) and massive machine-type communications (mMTC).
Saleem AlBlooshi, Chief Technology Officer at du, stated: "We are committed to setting new benchmarks in network quality and service excellence. The successful deployment of 5G-Advanced services is a proud global first for du and a testament to the ingenuity of our network teams. The L-Band spectrum initiative reflects our commitment to innovation and our continuous efforts to maximize spectrum resources to deliver superior connectivity experiences for our customers."
du credits the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) for enabling the milestone.
