China's Oppo to test smartphones on Etisalat's 5G network

Smartphone company Oppo has announced a collaboration with UAE-based Etisalat to test the compatibility of its 5G phones.

Zhang Zhi, 5G Expert from OPPO ... The smartphone brand said the tie-up with Etisalat would ensure that user experience in the UAE reaches the necessary level for commercial use.

Chinese smartphone company Oppo has announced a collaboration with UAE-based Etisalat to test the compatibility of its 5G phones on the local 5G network.

This is the first 5G smartphone test between carrier and smartphone in the GCC region, the 5G MENA 2019 summit held in Dubai heard on Tuesday.

The smartphone brand said the tie-up with Etisalat would ensure that user experience in the UAE reaches the necessary level for commercial use.

"While the underlying 5G network infrastructure is vital to a connected future, the capacity of super-powerful 5G networks only matters when people can leverage these benefits in their everyday lives,” said Andy Shi, president of Oppo Middle East & Africa. “This makes the pivot to 5G all the more important to our industry.”

“This year is the first of 5G commercialization and is set to be a game-changer that revolutionizes the smartphone industry,” he added.

Commenting on the collaboration with Oppo, Khaled Elkhouly, chief consumer officer, Etisalat, said: “We at Etisalat are excited to work closely with OPPO to test the compatibility of its 5G smartphones with our 5G network, ensuring that user experience reaches the level for commercial use.

"It is part of our commitment to build partnerships with world leading smartphone manufacturers and technology leaders, and enable our customers to enjoy the best-in-class performance and our 5G network that boasts of ultra-high speeds and low latency services."

He added that Etisalat’s infrastructure can enable 5G connectivity today for all fixed and mobile devices expected to be launched by the end of the first half of this year.

Last month, Oppo announced that its first 5G smartphone has successfully passed 5G CE tests conducted by Sporton International Inc, making it compliant with EU requirements in areas such as wireless, electromagnetic compatibility, health and safety.

Earlier this year, the company opened its second regional hub within the UAE, making Dubai its new centre for operations in the Middle East & Africa.

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