du prepares for fastest fiber broadband in the UAE with successful test of Nokia's next-generation 40 Gigabit TWDM-PON technology

• Nokia's TWDM-PON technology achieved 40 Gbps (Gigabits per second) in a lab test, paving way for 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) and moving Dubai closer to becoming a smart city role model

• 40 Gbps can enable new services such as smart home and faster downloads speeds that allow a 2-hour, 4K-quality video to be downloaded in seconds

Dubai, UAE -- December 13, 2016

UAE-based telecommunications service provider du has successfully tested Nokia's Time and Wavelength Division Multiplexing Passive Optical Network (TWDM-PON) innovative fiber technology in its lab, reaching aggregate speeds of 40 Gbps.

Nokia's TWDM-PON technology expands the capacity of du's fiber access network by providing additional wavelengths over a fiber which collectively deliver up to 40 Gbs. This enables significantly higher upload and download speeds. Thanks to Nokia's unique next-generation Passive Optical Network solution, du can efficiently upgrade its existing GPON network to the next-generation with XGS-PON or TWDM-PON on a single fiber.

Currently offering 1 Gbps services in the UAE, du continues to innovate and invest in technologies that will offer its business and residential customers the speed and quality of service they expect. The rise in bandwidth will help du improve the customer experience significantly for residential customers and launch new services for the highly demanding business customers.

Jasim AlAwadi, Vice President - Network Infrastructure & Services, at du, comments:

"With the increased use of smart devices and bandwidth-hungry applications by our subscribers, the demand for an ultra-fast network also keeps increasing. Keeping our customers on the top of our mind, we pioneer by introducing market-leading technologies to them. Our successful test of Nokia's TWDM-PON is proof of this. We are confident that our cooperation will take the country's journey toward IoT and smart cities to the next level."

Rima Manna, head of the du customer team at Nokia, says:

"With its current strategy, du is very well positioned to evolve its network now and in the long term, and meet the customer needs of one of the leading broadband countries in the world. With this latest successful test, we reiterate our commitment to du in its endeavor to launch truly innovative services for its subscribers across the country."

du is the strategic partner of Smart Dubai for Smart Dubai Platform. The Smart Dubai Platform will be developed and implemented by du, in an ambitious and unique public-private partnership model that will set new benchmarks for cross-sector partnerships for smart city initiatives globally.