The UAE ranks second on the list of nations with the most number of fiber-optic connections globally, according to the FTTH Council Europe.

The number of premises in the UAE linked with Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) increased to 56 per cent at the start of 2012, from 30.89 per cent earlier. This increase has helped UAE surpass Hong Kong (45 per cent) and Japan (42 per cent). South Korea ranked first at 58 per cent.

Almost all the FTTH connections in the UAE have been provided by Etisalat.

Currently, other than the UAE, no other country within the GCC features in the top 30 FTTH list.

According to Frost & Sullivan, UAE is soon expected to be the leader and the first country in the world to have 100 per cent household broadband internet penetration through FTTH technology.

"Etisalat is adding new achievements to its success record. It has been a result of huge investments in developing the telecom infrastructure of the country, amounting to nearly Dh6 billion in 2011. By the start of 2012, FTTH has covered about 56 per cent of households in the UAE, and has made Abu Dhabi the world’s first fiber-connected capital city," said Ali Alahmed, chief corporate communications officer at Etisalat. 

"Through its FTTH network, Etisalat has introduced the fastest Internet broadband at 30Mbps for residential customers through eLife services and 100Mbps for businesses. The FTTH service has benefitted various industry sectors, including banks, healthcare, and education which are direct beneficiaries of these technological advancements", he added. - TradeArabia News Service