PRESS RELEASE: The UAE is seeing 600 MHz international mobile telecommunications (IMT) development enter a new chapter as its Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) officially announced, on November 29, 2024, that 600 MHz would be assigned to IMT systems.

This represents a major milestone in the country’s mobile communications development following the identification of this band for use in mobile communications systems at the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23). In addition to providing extra spectrum for operators, the use of 600 MHz will enable the UAE to further consolidate its leading position in the adoption of mobile communications technology.

600 MHz Is the Ideal Candidate for Expanding Wide-Area 5G Accessibility

As a significant chunk of below 1 GHz spectrum, which is key to ensuring IMT system coverage, 600 MHz boasts wide coverage due to its excellent propagation characteristics, making it an ideal choice for further expanding 5G connectivity while also improving stability and experience. These characteristics of 600 MHz make it important to the IMT industry, which has reached a broad consensus on the need to seek new low-band spectrum to fill up the deficit in low-band and medium-band spectrum as mobile communications continue to develop rapidly.

A table with three columns detailing frequency band information. The 6 GHz column highlights EMEA, CIS, APAC, and new market entries. The 3.5 GHz column notes global harmonization and spectrum allocations. The Low Bands column mentions MT, mobile allocation, and new market entries in multiple regions.

Spectrum identification for IMT at WRC-23

600 MHz Is an Accelerator for Service Improvement and the Digital Economy

600 MHz will emerge as a core 5G low band that will benefit 5G networks in the following ways:

  1. Broader 5G reachability: Thanks to its strong obstacle-penetration capabilities, 600 MHz can effectively extend mobile connectivity to deeper spaces within residential and commercial areas. Featuring a huge coverage area, the band will also enable operators to expand 5G coverage to rural and connectivity-scarce areas, further reducing the digital divide.
  2. Quicker 5G standalone (SA) evolution: The use of 600 MHz for 5G IMT will be essential to ensure consistent SA experiences and expand native 5G capabilities from subscribers to a huge population of vertical users, with a focus on promoting reduced capability (RedCap) for the innovative Internet of Things (IoT), Internet of Vehicles (IoV), and industrial Internet applications.
  3. Stronger mobile AI enablement: Leading networks are the prerequisite for leading services. 600 MHz, with its extensive coverage reaching hundreds of square miles, provides a solid and ubiquitous foundation for diverse Mobile AI applications. This ensures the availability of AI phones, AI assistants, AI wearables, intelligent driving, and embodied robots anytime, anywhere, thereby fostering the innovation and expansion of more Mobile AI services.

The 600 MHz spectrum’s superior penetration and wide coverage are set to enhance indoor connectivity and reliably connect millions of devices, fostering innovation and technological advancement. This frequency band is crucial for deploying advanced 5G services such as IoT and smart cities, thereby improving user experience, competitiveness, and digital infrastructure across the UAE.