5G-Advanced GCC Deployment: 10GIGA Era Begins in 2025

Telecom operators and technology providers in the Gulf Cooperation Council region announced coordinated plans for 5G-Advanced (5G-A) network deployment during a high-level panel at the 19th Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit held December 10-11, 2025, in Dubai. The session brought together representatives from GSMA, SAMENA Telecommunications Council, e& UAE, du, Omantel, Nokia, Ericsson, Huawei, and Tozed Kangwei Tech to discuss the rollout of 10-gigabit network infrastructure.

The panel, titled “10GIGA GCC with 5G-A: The Journey Starts Now,” focused on the upper 6GHz spectrum band as a key enabler for the next phase of mobile network evolution. Operators highlighted the need for regulatory clarity, device ecosystem readiness, and AI-integrated network architecture to support multi-gigabit speeds and low-latency services.

Key Takeaways

GCC operators commit to coordinated 5G-Advanced deployment targeting 10-gigabit network performance
Upper 6GHz spectrum identified as critical mid-band asset balancing coverage and capacity
UAE cited for early 5G-A launches following WRC-23 spectrum decisions
Technology providers demonstrate antenna arrays exceeding 1,500 elements for improved propagation
Shift from best-effort connectivity to SLA-backed, guaranteed services emphasized

Spectrum Strategy Drives 5G-Advanced GCC Deployment

Izhar Ahmad, Director of Industry Affairs & Communication at SAMENA Telecommunications Council, described the upper 6GHz spectrum as essential for digital inclusion and AI-driven services. He pointed to the UAE as an early adopter translating World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 outcomes into national spectrum roadmaps.

Dr. Nadia Brahmi, Technology Director at GSMA, positioned 5G-A as a bridging technology toward 6G networks. She identified three practices emerging from GCC experience: early spectrum allocation decisions, regulator-operator pilots for real-world validation, and ecosystem collaboration spanning governments, operators, vendors, and research institutions.

Operator Perspectives on Network Evolution

Bushra Alyas, Senior Manager of Mobile Access Network at e&, characterized the 6GHz band as a premium mid-band asset offering balance between coverage and capacity. She stressed the importance of clear spectrum strategy alignment across the ecosystem.

Ahmed AlShal, Director of Access Network Deployment & Solutions Design at du, described the upper 6GHz band as a complementary capacity layer. He explained that C-band spectrum provides wide-area performance while low-band frequencies deliver deep indoor coverage.

Dr. Ali Said Shinoon Al Hashmi, General Manager Networks at Omantel, reported that 5G-based fixed wireless access adoption exceeded traffic forecasts. This growth reinforced the need to transition from best-effort connectivity to service-level agreement-backed, guaranteed services enabled by upper 6GHz and 5G-Advanced capabilities.

Technology Advances Enable Infrastructure Reuse

Drazen Colnar, Senior ICT Solution Architect at Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, explained advances in radio design allowing upper 6GHz to achieve propagation characteristics comparable to 3.5GHz C-band. Antenna arrays exceeding 1,500 elements enable operators to reuse existing towers, power, and transport infrastructure while maintaining cost control.

Zoran Lazarevic, CTO at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, described upper 6GHz as a “centimeter-wave bridge” between 5G and 6G. He noted that experience-centric services such as guaranteed low-latency gaming, industrial automation, and extended reality require large contiguous bandwidth paired with mid-band coverage characteristics.

Mohamed Samir, VP Middle East Mobile Networks at Nokia, highlighted how AI-native network design is driving exponential traffic growth. He stated that AI integration at the radio level is necessary to maximize spectrum value and support personalized, guaranteed experiences at scale.

Device Ecosystem Readiness

Kewen Wang, Director of Global Marketing and Business Development at Tozed Kangwei Tech, a Huawei ecosystem partner, emphasized the role of upper 6GHz-capable devices in unlocking 5G-A performance. The company completed early pilots in the UAE and Oman, with further trials planned across Europe and Asia, achieving uplink speeds approaching 1.8 Gbps and multi-gigabit downlink performance.

What’s Next

The 10GIGA GCC launch ceremony at the summit marks the beginning of a coordinated deployment phase across the region. The initiative signals a shift toward experience-driven, ultra-wideband 5G-A connectivity supporting industrial automation, extended reality applications, and AI-powered services ahead of future 6G network development.