Du teams up with Huawei to boost network capacity

The UAE's second telecom operator, Du, today announced plans to upgrade its network as it gears up for an increase in mobile data usage.

The US$85 million financing deal with infrastructure vendor Huawei will see Du roll out HSPA+ technology from early next year.

Du said that its network is currently capable of offering a maximum download speed of 7.2Mbps, while the HSPA+ technology has a top speed of 21Mbps.

"The high-speed HSPA+ technology will usher in a new era for mobile broadband, making a vast range of applications and services available to consumers on-the-go," said Du's senior vice president for Network Development, Hatem Bamatraf.

Bamatraf said that the upgrade will result in "a nearly 200% increase in mobile bandwidth, making downloading, uploading and other online activities faster and easier than ever".

The actual download and upload speeds experienced by mobile broadband customers are dependent on a range of factors, including the type of device used, the amount of network coverage and the number of other users in the area.

"HSPA+ perfectly positions Du for further mobile broadband enhancements on the road to the fully-convergent, IP-based mobile wireless system promised by LTE (fourth generation technology long term evolution) technology," added Bamatraf.