UAE-based operator du announced on Tuesday it has partnered with global satellite operator Intelsat to expand cellular connectivity across the country.
Through its partnership with Intelsat, du will leverage the the IS-39 satellite to provide cellular backhaul coverage to the most remote areas of the UAE to ensure that mobile users can get a signal anywhere in the UAE.
“With this advanced technology, end users can enjoy a superior, uninterrupted connection experience, regardless of their location,” said du CTO Saleem AlBlooshi, in a statement. “The introduction of advanced networking infrastructure and services will act as a catalyst, propelling our community into the digital transformation era.”
According to the latest figures from the UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), there were over 22 million mobile phone subscribers in the country at the end of 2023, which is more than double the actual population. Around 97% of the population has access to 5G coverage.
In January 2023, du said it conducted a successful proof of concept for satellite-enabled 5G backhaul using satellite operator SES’ O3b MEO satellites.
