Page 21 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Telecom Wholesale Business to Play a Pivotal Role in the Future, Says

Etisalat Chief

The telecom wholesale business will All these were made possible with a well- insights into digitalization, automation,
continue to play a pivotal role in the future established carrier wholesale ecosystem,” and standardization, which are essential
just as how it has been especially evident said Amiri. Amiri, who participated in for carrier wholesalers to be more agile
during the pandemic, said Ali Amiri, Group a keynote panel on ‘A post-pandemic and open. “Digital wholesalers will be able
Chief Carrier and Wholesale Officer, market: innovation and technology remain to provide services on demand using easy
Etisalat, during the second day of the key for wholesale success’, said successful to use customer portals or applications,
Telecoms World Middle East 2021. “During telecom wholesalers of the future must enabled by the virtualization of the network.
Covid-19, the telecom wholesale business have the infrastructure or ecosystem This requirement is vital to be able to serve
played a critical role in making things work that enables a customer experience that new types of customers in addition to
for the world. We witnessed its ability to matches the digital players. This can be telcos such as Communications Platform
accommodate the surge in data and SMS enabled by automation, virtualization, and as a Service (CPaaS) platform providers,
traffic, which was triggered by the huge on demand services that are delivered content providers, gaming and financial
increase of all kinds of online activities. in near real-time. He also shared his services sectors,” Amiri said. The panel
also delved into harnessing virtualized
communications, business intelligence,
machine learning and blockchain in
their products, and wholesale delivery
architecture; and dramatically advancing
digital wholesale opportunities and
replacing legacy systems for future
agility. The two-day virtual event, which
concluded on 16th June, focused on the
strategies, technologies and big ideas that
will be essential for telecommunication
companies in 2021.

Etisalat Joins Global Startup 5G Program

Etisalat joins Ericsson’s global Startup 5G 5G. By bundling and offering innovative augmented and virtual reality, digital
program apps and digital services, Etisalat can education, e-sports, and other immersive
• Etisalat will be able to tap into Ericsson’s differentiate the customer experience media applications. Khaled Elkhouly, Chief
ConsumerLab research and analytical over 5G, ultimately changing the usage Consumer Officer, Etisalat says: “5G has
data, as well as gain exclusive access behavior and demand for enhanced the capability to enable new experiences
to a worldwide network of 5G startups mobile broadband connectivity. The and use cases that are critical for the new
• Collaboration will see Etisalat and program hosts a variety of innovative digital normal and were impossible prior
Ericsson working together to envision companies from across the world and to 5G, be it for consumers or businesses.
and accelerate commercialization of is continuously expanding. Startup 5G This will remotely enable opportunities
new 5G consumer use cases helps member startups to evolve their within education, health, factories, ports,
Etisalat has joined Ericsson’s Startup 5G business by connecting them with and entertainment. Ericsson’s Startup 5G
program designed to help communications communications service providers around program is a great platform that will amplify
service providers (CSPs) successfully the world, providing exposure in major the use of these futuristic services, target
accelerate the commercialization and technology events, and sharing Ericsson’s new opportunities, and implement 5G use
monetization of 5G by introducing technological and strategic expertise. cases across verticals. This collaboration
them to the right consumer innovation The program also offers the participating will give us the opportunity to introduce
partners. The program seeks to encourage startups to connect with the consumer new partners and offerings to customers in
innovation transfer around 5G technologies market using ConsumerLab’ s expertise the UAE as we continue to work to provide
between startups and Etisalat to mutually to validate their 5G services and concepts unparalleled 5G services.” Jasmeet Sethi,
create new business opportunities in the and grow. The new collaboration further Head of ConsumerLab, Ericsson Research,
market. As part of Ericsson Startup 5G, strengthens the partnership between says: “We are really looking forward
Etisalat will receive access to a curated Ericsson and Etisalat, with the companies to working closely with Etisalat to co-
list of companies that develop scalable working together to research and develop create and test applications enhanced
services, devices, and applications over new 5G consumer offerings such as by 5G. With access to 22 global startups

21 JUN-AUG 2021