• The step accelerates 4G LTE rollout on du's network, in support of UAE Smart Government and Smart City initiatives
• Faster browsing ahead for customers as du announces extension of 2014 network growth target

Dubai, UAE: In response to the increasing demand for faster connectivity at all times and anywhere, du will expand its 4G LTE network by 25% - beyond the company's original plans for expansion in 2014. du doubled its 4G LTE footprint in the first 3 months of 2014, and is working on completing this additional expansion by the end of the year.

"Our internal analysis and monitoring of data usage patterns on our network has shown very healthy growth, in line with global trends," said Saleem Albalooshi, Executive Vice President, Network Development and Operations, du. "In order to provide our customers with the best experience, we have added value to our network by increasing it beyond our original plans for 2014. This will allow customers to experience seamless 4G LTE connectivity in more areas than before, truly paving the way for the fulfillment of both the Smart Government and Smart City initiatives."

The increase in du's 4G LTE network footprint will mean better speeds and higher bandwidth for customers, than will enhance the experience when downloading, streaming videos, gaming and so on.

Globally, mobile data traffic in Q1 2014 exceeded the total mobile data traffic of 2011, according to Ericsson's latest Mobility Report. The same report anticipates a compound annual growth rate of around 45% between 2013-2019, leading to a 10 times increase by the end of 2019.

du is committed to ensuring that customers enjoy the highest level of experience and convenience on its network. To do so, the company continually implements upgrades with the latest technology innovations, to provide an amplified level of service. Within 2014 alone, du has introduced Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology, an innovative addition that allows customers to browse the internet while making crystal-clear voice calls. du is the first in the region to install and test VoLTE on a live network, and has the world's fastest deployment at just 80 days.

Additionally, working with international vendors and technology powerhouses, du held a successful field test for LTE-A Carrier Aggregation between the 800MHz and 1800MHz bands; this technology allows for greater speed and reliability for mobile subscribers. The company also plans to deploy IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) on its network later in 2014, further enhancing customers' experience when using du's network.

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