du Supercharges the Mobile Experience with the Region's First Demo of 802.11ad Multi-gigabit Wi-Fi Technology from Qualcomm Technologies

Dubai, UAE, 17 October 2016 

UAE-based leading telecommunications service provider, du, and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, announced today that the Companies have successfully showcased 802.11ad Multi-gigabit Wi-Fi technology (also known as WiGig), a first in the Middle East region.  The demonstration took place during GITEX Technology Week in Dubai, paving the way for rapid deployment of 802.11ad in the region.  802.11ad delivers peak speeds of up to 4.6Gbps, lower latency, and improved network capacity. Utilizing millimeter-wave spectrum (mmWave) at 60GHz, 802.11ad serves as a foundational technology for 5G. 

du is proud to have been selected as smart city partner for Wi-Fi in Dubai and has recently launched “WiFi UAE” with 300+ hotspots. 802.11ad will be a crucial addition to du’s already impressive technology portfolio, providing a step-up in Wi-Fi capacity and addressing the ever-increasing demand for data while offering enhanced user experiences. Together with 5G technologies, 802.11ad will enable du to provide multi-gigabit wireless connectivity across its networks.

As an important step in the evolution of Wi-Fi, 802.11ad is designed to enable a new class of applications and services such as wire-equivalent docking, low-latency video streaming, multimedia kiosks, untethered VR glasses and more.  Working seamlessly with 802.11ac Wave 2, 802.11ad is designed to transform the experiences for Wi-Fi users, whether it be it in the office, home or public venues.  

“As proud partners of the Smart Dubai Platform, it is up to us to ensure that our networks are well-equipped to handle the growing traffic as we begin to venture into a future where the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G is a norm. Working with Qualcomm Technologies has enabled us to introduce yet another first in the Middle East, with the successful testing of 802.11ad technology. We are currently working with other companies to add this technology to our Wi-Fi portfolio and make it available for all users in UAE,” said  Saleem AlBlooshi, Executive Vice President of Network Development and Operations at du. “This  successful demonstration adds further impetus to the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in establishing the UAE as a global leader in all aspects and as an innovator in technology in the Middle East region.”

“We are proud to have worked with du to successfully showcase 802.11ad technology in the Middle-East as the introduction of the technology in the region will not only substantially enhance Wi-Fi user experiences, but pave the way for 5G development in the region,” said Rahul Patel, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Connectivity, Qualcomm Technologies. “Powering the industry’s first commercial 802.11ad-enabled access point, laptop and smartphone products, Qualcomm Technologies prides ourselves in continuing to play an instrumental role in bringing advanced Wi-Fi technologies to life and with working alongside innovative companies like du in building a strong 802.11ad end-to-end ecosystem.”

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About Qualcomm Incorporated
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is a world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes Qualcomm’s licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of Qualcomm’s engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of its products and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 30 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm’s website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.

Qualcomm Contacts:
Pete Lancia, Corporate Communications
Phone:  1-858-845-5959
Email:  corpcomm@qualcomm.com

About du
du is a vibrant and multiple award-winning telecommunications service provider serving over 8 million individual customers with its mobile, fixedline, broadband internet, and Home services over its 4G LTE network. du also caters to over 80,000 UAE businesses with its vast range of ICT and managed services. Since its launch in 2007, du has many UAE firsts to its credit, including introduction of Pay by the Second® billing system, IPTV and self-service portal.

du is ideally placed to support the realisation of UAE Vision 2021 and transformation of Dubai into a Smart City. du is also the official strategic partner of the Smart Dubai Office and the platform provider for Smart Dubai. Following the successful testing of the Middle East’s first Internet of Things (IoT) network, du is on course to complete deployment of its IoT network in 2016.

Brand Finance ranked du as the 12th most valuable brand in the Middle East in 2016. du previously won the coveted Brand of the year title by Superbrands Middle East in 2013. The company has been recognised with several other awards such as ISO 27001 certification of Managed Security Services and having the distinction of opening UAE’s first LEED Platinum Certified Green Shop. du also has the unique distinction of the first telecom in the world to release Sustainability Report based  on GRI-G4 guidelines in 2014. du is also credited with du’s world-class teleport is the largest of its kind in the Middle East and ranked among the top teleports in the world by World teleport Association.

As an Emirati business, du is vested in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in the UAE. The company has, on average, had an Emiratisation rate of 34% since 2013 across its entire business. Human capital is a key focus area for the company, and the company employs nearly 2000 people from over 60 nationalities. du has won Gallup Great Workplace Award for two consecutive years.

du is 39.5 percent owned by Emirates Investment Authority, 19.75 percent by Mubadala Development Company PJSC, 19.5 percent by Emirates Communications and Technology LLC and the remaining by public shareholders. Listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), the company trades under the name ‘du’.

For more information visit www.du.ae

Media contacts:
Saugat Chatterjee
Brand & Communications
du
Mobile: +971559367045
Email: Saugat.Chatterjee@du.ae

Layal Dalal
Communications Manager
MSLGROUP
Email: layal.dalal@mslgroup.com

© Press Release 2016