du and Khalifa University Develop Blueprint for AI-Driven 6G Networks
Developed by du Infra in collaboration with the Digital Future Institute at Khalifa University, the publication presents a blueprint for AI-native, autonomous and monetizable telecom infrastructure, exploring how telecom operators can evolve into intelligence infrastructure providers.
du, the leading telecom and digital services provider, has published its first whitepaper, The Intelligence Network: A 6G Blueprint for Telcos, reinforcing its role as a key contributor to shaping the future of 6G and AI-driven telecommunications. Developed by du Infra in collaboration with the Digital Future Institute at Khalifa University , the publication presents a blueprint for AI-native, autonomous and monetizable telecom infrastructure, exploring how telecom operators can evolve into intelligence infrastructure providers.
du’s upper 6 GHz field trials, conducted on live macro infrastructure in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi, are among the first in the region to validate upper-mid-band spectrum performance at scale, achieving outdoor coverage of up to 500 metres and peak downlink speeds approaching 1.5 Gbps using existing site infrastructure.
“Advancing next-generation technologies requires deep collaboration between academia and industry. Through this partnership with du, Khalifa University is translating world-class research into practical solutions that help shape the future of intelligent telecommunications. By combining scientific expertise with real-world deployment, we are not only contributing to the evolution of AI-native 6G networks but also reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global hub for innovation, advanced technologies and knowledge-driven economic growth.”
– H.E. Professor Ebrahim Al Hajri, President, Khalifa University
“The next decade of telecom will be defined by how much intelligence they can deliver. This whitepaper sets out du’s conviction that networks must evolve from infrastructure that connects to infrastructure that understands the needs of our customers and the wider economy. Our upper 6 GHz field results show that this future is not theoretical. It is being built today, on our existing network, and positions du to lead the region’s transition toward AI-native, autonomous telecom infrastructure.”
– Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO, du
Addressing industry projections where mobile data traffic is expected to more than triple by 2030 against modest revenue growth (GSMA Mobile Economy Report 2024), the publication highlights 6G networks as the natural evolution of 5G and 5G-Advanced, which will operate as software-defined AI-native platforms capable of sensing, predicting, deciding and acting in real time.
The whitepaper details the transition driven by core capabilities such as intent-based orchestration, Network Digital Twins, and Telecom World Models. Furthermore, it identifies the Radio Access Network (RAN) as a central hub for network intelligence, shifting from a traditional radio transmission layer into an energy-efficient, sensing-enabled platform for smart wireless communications.
Beyond technical architecture, the blueprint explores how AI-native networks could unlock tangible commercial opportunities. By transforming intelligence into a structured portfolio of services, operators can unlock new revenue streams across AI-powered operations, enterprise digital twins, autonomous AI agents and outcome-based service guarantees. du’s 6G roadmap builds directly on its 5G-Advanced foundation and its commitment under the TM Forum Autonomous Networks Manifesto, delivering a sustainable, practical path towards network autonomy.
Through its first industry whitepaper, du reinforces its commitment to shaping the future of intelligent telecommunications by combining research, innovation and practical deployment insights to help accelerate the industry’s transition towards AI-native 6G networks.
