Abu Dhabi to lead world for high-speed internet access

Monday, 25 May 2009 3:52 PM

Abu Dhabi will be the world’s first city to boast super fast internet connection speeds following the installation of new technology, Etisalat claimed on Monday.

The UAE telecoms provider said 712,000 of customer homes and residences will be fitted with fibre to the home (FTTH) cables during this year’s second half.

Etisalat added the remaining emirates will be connected by 2011.

According to telecoms experts, internet speeds through FTTH connections are 20 to 100 times faster than typical cable modems and dial up lines.

“FTTH technology will bring about a paradigm shift in the communication sector, taking it to unprecedented levels,” said Khalifa Al Shamsi, Etisalat’s vice president of consumer marketing.

During the Telecom Leaders Roundtable Summit, Shamsi added: “With its high-speed internet offering speeds up to 100 mbps, this technology will boost adoption of new age internet services like IPTV, video on demand, and online gaming, creating future smart homes.”

Other benefits of FTTH include online health checks, three dimensional images and data, video conferencing and e-education, Shamsi said.

Apart from FTTH, Etisalat is also planning to roll out mobile broadband with increased bandwidth across the UAE.

The service will enable iPhone users to access the internet anywhere, while the company intends to provide 3G coverage to 99 percent of populated areas across the emirates.

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Posted by: mohsen Wednesday, 27 May 2009 9:15 PM[UAE]

as my friend said, in Europe and USA its much much much cheaper and faster than Etisalat

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Posted by: Pinko Pallino Wednesday, 27 May 2009 5:11 PM[UAE] - uae

fibre is all nice but Etisalat is making it unfeasible for an average customer. Internet is 10x cheaper in Europe, FTTH is standard pretty much everywhere. A lot of noise for nothing.

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Posted by: Sharbeen Srash Wednesday, 27 May 2009 5:09 PM[UAE]

There was a time when KSA used to be overpriced and gradually they have started reducing the price of their internet package while UAE is still backward. I used to admire UAE for their internet technology. But today I hate that place and never wish to work there or visit that place for the lack of technology and the progress they've made in developing the country wisely. Its high time Etisalat or Du reduced the cost of the telecom service provided. From Internet to mobile charges. Priority for the internet ofcourse.

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Posted by: Salem Mohamed Wednesday, 27 May 2009 4:25 PM[UAE] - UAE

Koreans have online gaming to utilise the high speed internet, Europeans and the US folks have online video/TV etc. What will Etisalat get us? I know it is not thier job to get the killer app or that wothwhile content but again at what cost?

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Posted by: Syd Wednesday, 27 May 2009 11:07 AM[UAE]

im sure they will achieve that, but they will charge a super premium price and make it rather unaffordable! so, what good is having a service that the volume user cannot afford?

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