Today's Edition
YOUSSEF ABDULRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
The UAE has topped global rankings for standalone 5G (5G SA) network speed, with download speeds reaching 879.89 Mbps, according to a report by Ookla, a company specialising in testing broadband and mobile network speeds.
The report also noted that upload speeds via the UAE's 5G SA network reached 70.93 Mbps, highlighting significant progress by telecom operators in deploying the standalone 5G network and testing advanced features like network slicing and mobile edge computing.
Ookla attributed the strong performance to the growing demand for faster and more reliable connectivity.
The standalone deployment model marks a major milestone in 5G network evolution, offering lower latency, increased bandwidth, and improved reliability compared to previous configurations.
India, the United States, and Southeast Asia are also among the leaders in adopting standalone 5G networks, while Europe lags behind, with operators hesitant due to relatively low returns on investment.
The report expects standalone 5G deployments to accelerate, driven by rising demand for faster telecom services and the expanding device ecosystem.
Most current 5G deployments use a non-standalone (NSA) model, which relies on a 4G core network and is quicker and less costly to implement.
In contrast, the standalone 5G network uses a dedicated core, enabling faster speeds, lower latency, and the ability to support a large number of devices.
The standalone model also unlocks features like network slicing, which allows operators to allocate network segments for specific use cases.
However, the more advanced infrastructure comes with higher costs and complexity, including the need for greater staff training, making the NSA model a common interim step toward full SA deployment.
The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) reported that by June 2024, 230 operators had invested in standalone 5G networks, representing 37 percent of the 614 operators that had invested in 5G worldwide.
However, standalone 5G coverage remains limited in many regions, including Africa, Europe, Central Asia, and Latin America.
