DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 20th edition of the Telecom Review Leaders' Summit, held on October 20–21, 2026, at the Ritz-Carlton, Dubai Jumeirah Beach Residence, industry leaders examined how upper 6 GHz (U6GHz) spectrum and 5G-Advanced could accelerate the GCC's journey toward 10 Gbps connectivity.
Moderated by Issam Eid, Group CMO and Partner at Telecom Review Group, the panel brought together Dr. Bilel Jamoussi, Deputy Director of ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau and Chief, Study Groups & Policy Department (SPD); Jawad Abbassi, Head of MENA, GSMA; Eng. Saif Bin Ghalita, Executive Director Technology Development Affairs, TDRA; Dr. Mahmoud Sherif, Head of Innovation and Technico Business Development, du; Dr. Ayman Elnashar, VP, Technology Strategy, Architecture & Innovation, etisalat; Steven Liu, Vice President of ICT Marketing and Solution Sales, Huawei Middle East and Central Asia; and Omar Samman, Head of Networks – Gulf, Ericsson.
Spectrum Policy Sets the Foundation
The UAE's progress in commercial U6GHz deployment reflects the importance of forward-looking spectrum policy and regulatory coordination. Eng. Bin Ghalita outlined the country's spectrum roadmap, including allocating 500 MHz in the 6 GHz band for indoor Wi-Fi in 2020 and subsequently designating 700 MHz, spanning 6.425–7.125 GHz, for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) in the 2024 National Frequency Plan.
These measures helped pave the way for commercial U6GHz deployments by etisalat and du. "For the U6GHz commercial launch, I would particularly like to recognize Huawei, with whom the UAE has had more than 25 years of engagement. Huawei has always delivered on its commitment," Eng. Bin Ghalita mentioned. "This kind of collaboration is what turns our missions into tangible progress."
Regulators must also address device compatibility and interference coordination.
"The regulator's job does not end with spectrum assigned; it continues until the investment and the partnership translate into a better experience for society," Eng. Bin Ghalita remarked.
The GSMA has pointed to growing international momentum behind U6GHz, with countries representing more than 80% of the world's population now supporting mobile use of the band and more than 60 mobile ecosystem players supporting large-scale deployment. To advance the industry's journey toward 6G, Abbassi stressed the importance of driving spectrum adoption while acknowledging and demonstrating the wider economic value of licensed U6GHz deployment.
"The licensed approach yields 7 times the economic benefits of keeping it in the unlicensed band," noted Abbassi.
Dr. Jamoussi warned that divergent national approaches could fragment device and network ecosystems, increasing costs. "International harmonization will be essential to making advanced connectivity more affordable and interoperable," he said.
Turning 10 Gbps Potential into Real-World Performance
U6GHz's ultra-wide bandwidth is enabling significant advances in peak data rates, with du reporting a 10 Gbps peak data rate in a 5G-Advanced demonstration combining U6GHz and Sub-3 GHz spectrum. Dr. Sherif positioned the achievement as a milestone for the UAE's wider telecommunications ecosystem.
"This achievement is particularly noteworthy given 5G-Advanced's role in bridging 5G and 6G. There are so many key takeaways that we can evaluate as we pursue 6G commercialization," highlighted Dr. Sherif.
Steven Liu identified fixed wireless access (FWA), mobile broadband, and AI-driven services as potential application areas, highlighting how U6GHz's ultra-wide bandwidth supports higher-speed home broadband and demanding mobile applications, although actual performance will depend on network configuration and deployment conditions. Steven Liu emphasized that the industry can "bring a new level of innovative service and superior end-user experience to the market through U6GHz."
Dr. Elnashar highlighted emerging enterprise offerings and AI-driven consumer applications. "It's a journey that we started two or three years back with the first prototype of U6GHz in the UAE," he remarked. "Following the trial where we demonstrated 10 Gbps downlink and uplink, I believe we are bridging the gap between wireless and fiber for the first time."
Omar Samman highlighted rising uplink and low-latency demands from AI applications. "Uplink growth is no longer a prediction; it is already happening," he said, noting the role of AI-enabled radio access network software and updated service-area planning.
Paving the Way for 6G Evolution
Following the panel, Allen Tang, President of Huawei's Wireless Network & Cloud Core Network Marketing & Solution Sales, and Toni Eid, Founder of Telecom Review Group and CEO of Trace Media International, joined the panelists to officially mark the world's first U6GHz commercial launch during an exclusive ceremony, highlighting the UAE's progress in moving the technology from spectrum planning to commercial deployment.
The milestone underscored the region's ambition to accelerate toward a 10 Gbps society. Achieving that vision, however, will require converged infrastructure, harmonized standards, device readiness, and sustainable investment. These factors will determine how effectively the GCC translates U6GHz potential into real-world connectivity and supports the transition to 6G.
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Telecom Review Group Accelerates the Journey to 10Giga GCC with U6GHz
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- xTool, a global leader in personal creative tools, November 6th announced a strategic partnership with Viettel Commerce, a member of Viettel Group, one of Vietnam's leading telecommunications and technology groups, marking a significant step in xTool's expansion into Vietnam.
With an established customer base in North America and Europe, xTool serves creators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses who use its tools to turn creative ideas into products for sale. Through its partnership with Viettel, xTool aims to bring these creative technologies and the opportunities they enable to more Vietnamese consumers, creators, and businesses.
According to CIC Consulting, xTool held a 47% share of the global laser engraver and cutter market by gross merchandise value (GMV) in the first nine months of 2025—approximately six times that of the second-largest brand and more than the combined share of brands ranked second through tenth.
A Strategic Partnership to Expand xTool's Presence in Vietnam
Under the strategic partnership framework, xTool and Viettel will explore collaboration across three key areas:
- Retail and hands-on experiences: Explore in-store displays, pop-up experiences, live demonstrations, and on-site personalization, allowing consumers and business customers to experience xTool's technologies firsthand and see how customized products can be created in real time.
- E-commerce: Explore online sales opportunities through platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, and Tiki, alongside localized marketing, product information, and customer engagement.
- Business and enterprise applications: Identify opportunities in customized merchandise, branded products, small-batch production, education and training, and suitable enterprise projects, helping local businesses develop differentiated products and respond to personalized customer demand.
xTool will contribute its product portfolio, technical expertise, marketing resources, and training capabilities. Viettel will bring local market knowledge, channel and logistics resources, and enterprise customer relationships. Together, the two companies will explore ways to provide localized customer support, including Vietnamese-language product consultation, product demonstrations, training, and technical assistance as the partnership develops. Specific initiatives will be developed as the partnership progresses.
"Vietnam is an exciting next step in xTool's expansion in Southeast Asia. Around the world, we've seen people turn their ideas into products and their creativity into businesses. We believe these opportunities can extend to more entrepreneurs in Vietnam. By combining xTool's innovative products and global experience with Viettel's strong local capabilities, we hope to help more Vietnamese entrepreneurs bring their ideas to market and build businesses of their own."
— Howard Zhong, Head of EMEA & Emerging Markets, xTool
Turning Creativity into Business Opportunities
Vietnam's entrepreneurial spirit and growing demand for personalized products create opportunities for individuals to turn creative ideas into viable businesses. From customized gifts and personalized merchandise to branded products and niche product lines, accessible creative tools are making it easier for entrepreneurs to start small, develop distinctive offerings, and respond to evolving customer needs.
Across Southeast Asia, xTool users are already turning these opportunities into real businesses. Arlyn Marie, a mother of two from the Philippines and a former bank marketing assistant, turned her handmade craft hobby into a personalized products business with xTool. By selling customized keepsakes at local markets, she generates around US$500 in revenue at a single market event. Her business income eventually surpassed her full-time salary, enabling her to become a full-time entrepreneur while gaining greater flexibility to spend time with her children.
"Creation is human nature. Even as the digital and virtual worlds continue to flourish, we believe there is enduring value in creating something extraordinary in the physical world.
At xTool, we bring together hardware, software, and community to empower everyday people to create in the physical world. Vietnam is a major manufacturing hub with an abundance of creative talent. Together with our local partner Viettel, we hope to empower more people in Vietnam to create locally, turn their ideas into tangible products, and build businesses of their own."
— Howard Zhong, Head of EMEA & Emerging Markets, xTool
The growing importance of in-person technology experiences in Vietnam can also be seen in the retail sector. In July 2026, DJI opened its first Authorized Retail Store in Vietnam at Saigon Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, offering hands-on product experiences, professional consultation, and creator workshops. For xTool, similar experiences could go a step further by allowing customers to see personalized products being made on the spot and explore practical applications for their own businesses.
Through its partnership with Viettel, xTool aims to bring these experiences and business opportunities closer to Vietnamese consumers and entrepreneurs, combining its product innovation and global experience with Viettel's local market capabilities.
"Vietnam's entrepreneurial spirit and growing interest in personalized products create exciting opportunities for new technologies. Our partnership with xTool brings together creative tools and local market capabilities, allowing us to explore how these technologies can help Vietnamese consumers, entrepreneurs, and businesses develop new products and commercial opportunities. We look forward to building practical solutions that respond to local needs."
— Mr. Pham Tien Tuyen, Deputy General Director of Viettel Commerce and Director of Viettel Distribution Center
About xTool
xTool is a global leader in personal creative tools, dedicated to making creation more accessible. Its portfolio includes laser engraving and cutting machines, material printing equipment, software, accessories, and consumables, serving individual creators, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and creative communities worldwide.
By combining hardware, software, and an expanding creative ecosystem, xTool enables users to turn digital ideas into physical products for personal creativity and commercial applications.
For more information, visit www.xtool.com.
About Viettel Group
Viettel Group (Military Industry and Telecoms Group) is Vietnam's leading telecommunications, industrial and digital technology enterprise, founded on June 1, 1989. With the mission "Pioneering to create a digital society", Viettel has evolved from a telecom operator into a global digital service provider. It operates in Vietnam and 10 international markets across Asia, Africa and the Americas, where its overseas mobile subscriber base reached 90 million in 2025. Its business covers digital infrastructure, digital solutions, cybersecurity, R&D & manufacturing, together with a mature offline distribution network via Viettel Commerce. As a trusted channel partner, Viettel Commerce, through its distribution arm Viettel Distribution, delivers premium tech products to end consumers, creators and small businesses throughout Vietnam. For more information, visit https://viettel.com.vn/.
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Global Creative Tool Leader xTool Officially Enters Vietnam, Signing Strategic Partnership with Viettel Group
