Etisalat customers set for high-speed service boost

Abu Dhabi: Etisalat yesterday announced the launch of its Dh5 billion fibre-optic network, meaning its UAE customers will begin receiving higher speed internet, cable and landline telephone services with one connection branded "eLife."

The company said coverage of Abu Dhabi Island's 200,000 homes will reach 100 per cent by the end of the year. More than 670,000 homes across the rest of the Emirates have been reached and can expect complete coverage by 2011, Etisalat Chief Marketing Officer Essa Al Haddad said.

"The services are already available," said Al Haddad.

"The difference is how they will be delivered. This technology allows us greater flexibility and speed."

Fibre-optic cables have grown more popular with regional telecom operators over copper wire because of their efficiency in providing telephone, internet and cable television services.

The new network will raise the limit for the company's top internet speed to 100 megabits (Mb) compared to 30 Mb per second now. This means, depending on the subscriber's connection, entire high-quality movies could be downloaded within minutes.