Etisalat brings LTE to UAE

Etisalat has announced the launch of its 4G LTE service in the UAE.

The LTE-FDD mobile network will cover all major cities in the country in the first deployment phase, with Etisalat promising data download speeds of up to 100 Mbps for its customers.

More than  700base stations have been renovated and equipped to provide 4G services in the country for the LTE network. Etisalat is planning up to 1,000 fully operational base stations by the end of 2011.

The technology is integrated with the country’s fibre optic network. The ongoing work aims to continue to cover the entire UAE with this network, which will also offer potential in terms of fixed internet services, offering speeds of up to 100MB/s and advanced high definition TV services, Etisalat said.

“Advanced telecommunications are a key basis for a developed society, and this 4G network can contribute to developing various sectors including education, finance, healthcare as well as the economic and business sectors, the latter of which will be a direct beneficiary of 4G,” said Nasser Bin Obood, acting-CEO at Etisalat.

Matthew Willsher, CMO at Etisalat, added: “In recent times, there has been a tremendous surge in both, subscriber numbers and data usage. Smartphones are growing at almost 90 percent a year. A whole new computing platform for mobile broadband has emerged, creating a thriving market for mobile apps – and changing the way we interact with the Internet.”

“LTE technology will deliver customers the dual benefits of super fast data speeds and much lower latency. It is a transformational force that will improve the digital lifestyles of our customers.”