Leading UAE telecom firm Etisalat group and China’s Huawei are set to collaborate on the design and deployment of future information and communication technology networks in the Middle East, the companies announced in a joint press release Wednesday.

Among the networks targeted for development are 5G and 40G PON. The former of these will offer mobile broadband at speeds of 10 gigabits per second, enabling the use of Real 3D, Virtual Reality, and Augmented Reality.

The introduction of 40G PON (passive optical networks), meanwhile, would allow for the expansion of premium fibre-optic, high-speed internet throughout the region.  Huawei released the industry’s first 40G PON prototype in October 2013, which it said would enable telecom operators to have greater control over network upgrades and related operating costs.

The two telecom firms announced the deal following a meeting attended by more than 70 regional representatives, including Etisalat Group’s chief technical officer, Hatam Bamatraf.

“Through our collaboration with Huawei and forums like this one, we are all able to benefit from sharing best practices and identifying how together we can lead on the forefront of technological development,” Bamatraf said.

Huawei, based in Shenzen, China, is currently the world’s largest producer of telecommunications equipment. Etisalat is the Middle East’s leading telecommunications operator and one of the largest corporations in the Gulf Cooperation Council.