The UAE has outpaced countries worldwide in the speed of its independent 5G network, known as “5G SA”, achieving an impressive download speed of 879.89 Mbps. This statistic comes from a report released by the international company Ookla, which specializes in testing the speed of broadband and mobile networks, as well as analyzing download and upload rates.
The report confirms that the download speed via the independent 5G SA network in the UAE hit an average of 70.93 Mbps. This remarkable performance is attributed to the significant advancements made by telecommunications operators in deploying the independent 5G network and testing cutting-edge features such as network slicing and mobile computing.
The firm noted that the rollout of 5G networks is accelerating in response to the increasing demand for faster and more reliable connectivity. The independent deployment model (SA) is regarded as a key milestone in the evolution of 5G networks, aimed at providing lower latency, increased bandwidth, and enhanced reliability compared to earlier network configurations.
It highlighted that India, the United States, and Southeast Asia are leading the way in adopting independent 5G networks, while Europe is lagging slightly, as operators remain hesitant due to relatively low returns on investment.
Expectations are high for a surge in the deployment of independent 5G networks this year, driven by the rising appetite for faster and more dependable communication services, supported by an expanding hardware ecosystem and the commercial interest of new 5G ventures.
Most current 5G deployments utilize a non-autonomous model (NSA), which builds upon the existing 4G core network. This model facilitates quicker rollout, requires lower investments, and enhances existing network capabilities.
In contrast, the autonomous 5G network (SA) operates on a dedicated core network, unlocking the full potential of 5G technology in terms of speed, latency, support for a vast number of devices, and the creation of more flexible services.
This system introduces innovative capabilities, such as network slicing, which allows operators to allocate portions of the network for specific customers or use cases. Additionally, key network features provided by the original cloud-based architecture enable greater scalability and automation compared to traditional physical or virtual frameworks.
However, this autonomous infrastructure poses challenges due to its complexity, investment requirements, and personnel training costs, leading many operators to adopt the non-autonomous NSA model as a stepping stone towards fully autonomous networks.
According to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSA), there were 230 operators investing in independent 5G networks as of the end of June 2024, representing 37% of the 614 operators known to be investing in 5G, whether through testing or deployment.
The GSA reports that 21% of global operators planning to invest in 5G networks have included autonomous 5G networks in their strategies.
Independent 5G coverage has been growing year-on-year, extending beyond urban centers; however, mobile subscribers in much of Africa, Europe, Central Asia, and Latin America have yet to experience this technology.
