e& UAE has activated 1024QAM modulation across its live commercial 5.5G network, recording peak download speeds of 4.58 Gbps in a demonstration that the operator described as a regional first.
The test was conducted using the Huawei Pura 90s smartphone, one of the first commercially available handsets to support the higher-order modulation technology. The development highlights the growing interdependence between advanced network infrastructure and compatible devices capable of taking advantage of its enhanced capabilities.
Higher-Order Modulation Boosts Network Efficiency
1024QAM enables more data to be transmitted within each wireless signal compared with the more widely used 256QAM standard. By increasing spectral efficiency, the technology can deliver higher theoretical peak speeds under optimal network conditions.
During the demonstration, the network reached 4,587 Mbps. However, real-world performance will depend on a range of factors, including signal strength, cell congestion, available spectrum and the handset’s ability to sustain the higher modulation scheme during everyday use.
While peak speeds recorded under controlled conditions do not necessarily translate directly into equivalent performance for consumers, the move to 1024QAM could deliver tangible benefits in demanding use cases. These include transferring large files, streaming high-bitrate video and running multiple bandwidth-intensive applications simultaneously.
Potential Benefits for Cloud Gaming and AI Services
Cloud gaming, multi-camera video calls and on-device artificial intelligence services that rely on sustained high-speed connectivity could also benefit as compatible networks and devices become more widely available.
The activation forms part of the UAE’s broader investment in advanced telecommunications infrastructure. Successive generations of 5G technology have already delivered significant improvements in network capacity and latency, making the adoption of 1024QAM a further step in the ongoing evolution of mobile connectivity rather than a sudden technological breakthrough.
e& has continued expanding its 5.5G capabilities by combining spectrum resources, denser network deployments and partnerships with device manufacturers. The use of the Huawei Pura 90s in the demonstration underscores the importance of the device ecosystem, as the benefits of advanced network technologies remain limited without a sufficient number of compatible smartphones in consumers’ hands.
Performance Will Depend on Network Conditions
The evolution of 1024QAM follows the same broader pattern seen with earlier modulation technologies, from QPSK to 64QAM and 256QAM. Each successive upgrade has increased network capacity and data throughput while requiring cleaner radio conditions and more advanced receivers.
The technology effectively trades some robustness for higher throughput. As a result, its benefits are expected to be most noticeable in dense urban areas with strong signal quality, while networks will continue to fall back to lower and more resilient modulation schemes at the edge of a cell or in weaker coverage conditions.
For consumers, the most noticeable improvements are likely to emerge when downloading large media libraries, accessing high-resolution content or running multiple data-intensive applications simultaneously. Everyday activities such as web browsing and social media use may not produce a dramatic difference for all users, as the overall experience also depends on backhaul capacity, core network routing and application design.
The longer-term test for e& will therefore be whether 1024QAM can deliver sustained performance under real-world network loads, rather than simply achieving impressive peak speeds in controlled demonstrations. Nevertheless, the activation reinforces the UAE’s position among the world’s most aggressive markets in the deployment of advanced mobile connectivity technologies.