Today's Edition
YOUSUF SAIFUDDIN (ABU DHABI)
The UAE leads the world in fixed broadband and mobile speeds by the end of 2024 – along with Abu Dhabi topping the world’s cities in fixed broadband and mobile speeds, according to Ookla’s global average Internet speed index for December 2024.
The mobile network in Abu Dhabi recorded an average speed for downloading data of 527.65 Megabits per second (Mbps), and 36.17 Mbps for uploading data, topping the list of cities in December 2024.
The Ookla index shows that the average speed of downloading files on the mobile network in Abu Dhabi is 740.3% higher than the global average of 62.79Mbps, while the speed of uploading data across the network is 206% higher than the global average of 11.82Mbps.
The emirate of Dubai ranked second in the world with an average data download speed of 424.33 Mbps and 31.20 Mbps for data upload.
In the global country rankings, the UAE topped the list for its fast mobile network speeds. The average download speed was 453.87 Mbps with upload speed of 32.69 Mbps.
According to a report by Ookla in 2024, the UAE topped global rankings for standalone 5G (5G SA) network speed, with download speeds reaching 879.89 Mbps.
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.
Fixed Broadband
Meanwhile, the fixed broadband network in Abu Dhabi recorded an average speed for downloading data of 319.63 Mbps, and 179.62 Mbps for uploading data, ranking third globally and top in the region in December 2024.
The Ookla index shows that the average speed of downloading files on the fixed broadband network in Abu Dhabi is 231.4% higher than the global average of 96.45 Mbps, while the speed of uploading data across the network is 244.76% higher than the global average of 52.10 Mbps.
Chile's Valparaíso topped the list with an average data download speed of 322.91 Mbps and 246.23 Mbps for data upload, followed by the city of Lyon in France with an average data download speed of 321.13 Mbps and 241.29 Mbps.
In the global country rankings, the UAE ranked third for fixed broadband speeds. The average download speed was 304.24 Mbps with upload speed of 154.86 Mbps.
The Government’s vision, investments of the &e Group and the Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du), in addition to the strategy of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority have been the main contributors to enhancing the UAE’s global leadership in high Internet speed.
In 2024, the UAE was once again recognised as the global leader in Fibre to the Home (FTTH) penetration, marking the eighth consecutive year the country held this top position with a penetration rate of 99.3%, according to the FTTH Council annual report.
The ranking solidified the UAE’s position as a global leader in high-speed fibre connectivity and underscores the vision of the nation’s leadership to prioritise next-generation digital infrastructure.
It is noteworthy that in 2024, e& UAE registered the world's fastest recorded speed of 30.5Gbps on its live 5G network, marking a significant milestone in the company's evolution towards 5G-Advanced.
The global achievement was unveiled during a demonstration held at SAMENA Leaders’ Summit 2024, showcasing the successful aggregation of multiple carriers across high-band and mid-band spectrums (1600 MHz in mmWave and 300MHz in C-band), with network speeds reaching 30.5Gbps.
e& UAE has also harnessed the power of AI to deliver seamless and personalised experiences to every customer.
AI technologies will spearhead intelligent energy-saving and smart network planning initiatives, driving environmental responsibility and technological excellence to new heights, a statement issued had said.
