UAE:2G mobile network to shut in December 2022

The 2G telephone network will be shut down in the UAE in December 2022, 28 years after it was introduced to the country.

The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) said in a tweet that the sale of mobile devices, that support only 2G networks will be stopped in the UAE, starting June 2022.

It said resources would be redirected to the 5G network to support the next generation of mobile phone connectivity.

Etisalat, the UAE’s largest telecom operator, will also gradually shut down its 2G mobile network services and the full plan will be completed by the end of next year. This is because, switching to advanced networks such as 5G, offers faster mobile data speed, fewer call drops as well as better call quality.

The UAE was the first country in the Arab region and the fourth in the world in the launch and use 5G, according to the Global Communication Index.

In 2021 most smartphone manufacturers start providing 5G support smartphones in their budget mobile phones. It is a clear sign that 5G is the future of technology.

A 5G network has an internet speed of up to 1.2 gigabits per second, which will gradually evolve to 10Gbps, more than 100 times that of 4G.

Ookla, the company behind the Speedtest app, used for gauging internet performance, found that only Oslo and Seoul had faster networks.

Abu Dhabi has the third-fastest 5G of any capital city worldwide, according to reports. 

The ultra-speed internet system is set to become the backbone of many futuristic developments in artificial intelligence, including self-driving cars and the Internet of things.