Page 55 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

ARTICLE SAMENA TRENDS

The company’s cloud computing services
are the foundation of digital transformation
in all industries. Etisalat has also been
collaborating with Amazon Web Services
(AWS) and Microsoft Azure to offer
Etisalat’s Cloud Express. The service
enables secure, private connectivity
between the customer’s corporate network
and their public clouds. Etisalat’s focus on
cloud services has led to the expansion of
the company’s data centers, with two new
facilities opening in Dubai and Al Ain in
2020.

Another area that has witnessed growth is
SD-WAN with an overwhelming response
from many OEMs and service providers
due to its superior features. The value
proposition is headed by cost optimisation security that it requires. A strategic plan provide Mobily Fiber services. Through
and efficient performance. Businesses are backed by intense research and careful the agreement with Open Broadband, 3.5
opting for a managed service provider who understanding of the network architecture million homes now have access to fixed
can analyse, design, migrate, implement, will help enterprises build an agile broadband services through fiber optic
and monitor SD-WAN solution and provide and future-proof network ready to put technology.
network performance and application technology to the most effective use.
reports. SD-WAN and virtual network With business continuity
services will be the key building blocks Mobily focuses on becoming a digital telco
for a WAN that can enable business Mobily announced a digital transformation becoming a key compo-
outcomes and become a driver for digital partnership with global technology nent in the pandemic, the
transformation. company SAP to energise its sales force
automation in line with its overall strategy. company became the first
The new concept of Secure Access Service Mobily’s digital transformation accelerated telecom operator in the
Edge (SASE) reduces complexity and growth in all the company’s digital channels Middle East and North
improves performance by unifying network, ranging from the portal and e-shop to the
security, and identity management under a application. New registrations in the app America (MENA) region to
single umbrella. In today’s world, work is doubled while online store visitors and receive ISO 22301:2019
moving outside the office, and securing eShop orders skyrocketed.
these remote workers has become a certification, for the new
necessity that comes with its own set of The company also expanded coverage international standard
complexities. SASE gives businesses the on the 5G network reaching 50 cities,
required convergence across multiple including most regions in the Kingdom. for Business Continuity
areas. SASE can secure cloud, branch The company acquired 5G spectrum in 2.6 Management Systems.
network edges, remote users and data GHz and 3.7 GHz, increased 5G sites rollout
centre to deliver a secure SD-WAN fabric by over 5 times in comparison to prior year Mobily also made its first successful 5G
across disparate connections. and extended FTTH coverage to 26 cities. voice call in the Middle East known as
Mobily partnered with Ericsson to trial Voice over New Radio (VoNR), and was
Enterprises need to review the strategic 5G on the 800 MHz and 1800 MHz bands made using the SA 5G network.
roadmap for the evolution of the WAN. using Ericsson Spectrum Sharing (ESS)
Assessing the current status of the technology that allows both 4G and 5G With business continuity becoming a key
network, and where it wants to be in technologies to be deployed in the same component in the pandemic, the company
the future is critical. Finally, preparing a band, enabling Mobily to manage network became the first telecom operator in
gradual migration path that leverages traffic more efficiently. the Middle East and North America
existing infrastructure with SD-WAN (MENA) region to receive ISO 22301:2019
should be the next step. Due consideration The company achieved SA 5G network certification, for the new international
has to be given on how enterprises can capability for data services offering standard for Business Continuity
optimise the use of AI and automation to independent 5G technology with zero Management Systems.
give their networks scalability, flexibility, reliance on the 4G network. Mobily
manageability, cost-effectiveness, and partnered with Open Broadband to

55 FEB-MAR 2021