Etisalat, the leading telecom services provider in the UAE, has completed the upgrade to the advanced HSPA+ (high speed packet access) technology, enabling its 3G network to become the fastest and the widest in the Middle East.

Etisalat customers across UAE cities will benefit from speedier mobile Web access in transferring data or browsing the Internet with the network upgrade to HSPA+, that will offer mobile broadband speeds of up to 21MBps for downloads and 11MBps for uploads in peak conditions.

It will empower customers to effortlessly stay connected on-the-move, using the best network designed to provide them with great quality and rich communication services on their laptops or Smartphone devices such as Blackberry and iPhone 3G for maximizing the speeds.

“We have put in our best to ensure that our customers benefit from efficient and seamless mobile broadband connectivity on Etisalat’s robust and reliable 3G network, built at par with the world’s best networks,” said Khalifa Al Shamsi, senior vice president of marketing at Etisalat.

“With the exponential growth of Smartphones, application stores, mobile Internet modems and 3G compatible devices, UAE residents are embracing wireless data and services like never before,” he added.

“Mobile broadband or 3G devices have become a new essential in our highly mobile lifestyles and it creates a high demand to stay connected while on the move. Etisalat’s new advancement reaches nearly 900,000 of its 3G mobile broadband customers across the country.”

Al Shamsi explained Etisalat’s strategy in maximising the penetration of mobile broadband in UAE.

“Our two-pronged objectives include creating the best network in the Middle East for our customers and introducing an attractive data package for their varying needs, whether they use it from their mobile devices or other 3G/3.5G devices such as USB dangles, routers or enabled laptops,” he said.

“In line with this, Etisalat recently reduced the subscription fee for 10GB data package to Dh395 ($107.50), and cut down prices for 1GB by 25 per cent, to Dh145 ($39.50),” Al Shamsi concluded. – TradeArabia News Service