DUBAI: A new high-speed long-term evolution mobile broadband network was launched by Etisalat in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the company said at a press conference over the weekend. The former monopoly will provide LTE, also known as 4G, in the UAE's major cities, it said at the press conference in Abu Dhabi. 4G allows for download speeds more than double that of previous mobile networks and Etisalat's move follows similar announcements by three Saudi Arabia operators earlier this month, with carriers betting on increased demand for mobile data to offset ebbing mobile subscriber growth. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have the infrastructure to make 4G a reality, according to company officials, who said that with a growing middle-class the population is ripe for the new technology. Etisalat has spent 6 billion dirhams ($1,63 billion) on its local LTE and fiber optic network, acting Chief Executive Nasser bin Obood said at the conference. BM