The United Arab Emirates has once again cemented its place as a global leader in digital infrastructure, achieving a record-breaking 99.5 per cent fibre optic network coverage across the country, according to the FTTH Council Europe.
The latest report, based on 2024 data, places the UAE ahead of all other nations in fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connectivity. South Korea ranks second with 96.6 per cent coverage, followed by China at 93.6 per cent. Hong Kong, long considered a tech hub, placed fifth with 89.9 per cent.
This milestone marks the continuation of the UAE’s dominance in the sector, having held the top spot in global fibre coverage rankings since 2016.
The country’s telecom sector is spearheaded by e& UAE, formerly Etisalat, which has developed a sprawling fibre optic infrastructure exceeding 14.5 million kilometres. The company’s chief executive, Masood Mahmood, credited the achievement to strategic investments that began nearly four decades ago. He noted that Abu Dhabi made history in 2011 by becoming the first capital city in the world to be fully covered by a fibre optic network.
“From our early steps in 1986 to today’s global recognition, this reflects the UAE’s unwavering commitment to technological leadership,” Mahmood said.
Fibre optic networks use pulses of light to transmit vast amounts of digital data, offering superior speed and reliability compared to traditional copper wiring. The technology has become the backbone of modern broadband internet systems.
The announcement coincides with rising competition in the broader telecommunications landscape. Amazon is set to launch the first 27 satellites of its Project Kuiper broadband constellation on April 9, entering a market currently led by Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its Starlink network.
While Starlink already boasts more than 8,000 satellites in orbit and serves over 4.6 million users worldwide, Amazon is making its long-anticipated move with a $10 billion investment and the might of its global infrastructure in cloud computing, e-commerce, and logistics.
As satellite internet begins to reshape global connectivity, the UAE’s leadership in terrestrial fibre optic networks stands as a benchmark for nations striving to enhance digital infrastructure.
