Page 12 - SAMENA Trends - November 2020

FEATURED SAMENA TRENDS

We aim to capture opportunities and deploy services based on
emerging technologies such as IoT, cloud, big data, AI, robotics,
autonomous, AR/VR, becoming a trusted partner that supports
transformation in a digitally disrupted and fully connected world.

Our IoT platform connected over 1 million SIMs with renowned
entities like Emirates Transport and Xtramix for fleet solutions
and Ministry of Interior for Hassantuk Smart Fire Alarm solution,
which have a massive impact on saving lives and enhancing the
state of security for the country.

Q. Can you share insights into Etisalat efforts in supporting
innovation and entrepreneurship?

A. Innovation is now embedded in our operations becoming
an integral element of everything we do within and outside the
company. Etisalat’s early adoption of technologies, striking the
right partnerships with technology leaders and entrepreneurs in
close partnership with government and private sector were key
factors to push us to innovate and lead in this space.

There is a serious effort internally in building an AI capability,
Etisalat has partnered with Microsoft, Accenture and EBTIC to build
a team to lead the AI stream for the company and the industry.
The team currently consists of 20 young Emiratis working on
internal use cases focused on increasing operational efficiencies
mainly with planning infrastructure and optimising the network.
The long term plan is to focus on building the capabilities of the facilitate the collaboration between government entities and
next generation of Emirati youth and AI use cases for internal use corporate partners from Dubai with international startups and
and will continue to increase efficiency, boosting productivity and scaleups. The programme is also one of the initiatives under
enhancing customer experience over the first 2 years. The team Etisalat Digital’s open innovation program ‘FutureNow’
would continue to explore external use cases as well and from
the second year would aim to build external use cases based Under DFA, the global startup in-residence programme ‘Cohort
on market requirement. The future plan is to expand the team 7’ paired seven international startups and scaleups from six
from 20 to 50 to focus on AI use cases that includes the entire countries out of a pool of 143 applicants with three priority areas
development journey from ideation to market release (challenges) of strategic relevance; using AR to survey sites,
digitising physical retail spaces and automating user acceptance
Etisalat’s IoT platform connected over testing for quicker release of solutions to the market.
1 million SIMs with government entities As a member of Fintech Hive, the acceleration programme of
like Emirates Transport and Ministry of financial centre DIFC, Etisalat collaborated with banks and
insurance companies to identify innovative fintech solutions
Interior in UAE that can become part of Etisalat Digital portfolio. During this
acceleration program, Etisalat Digital mentored and collaborated
Etisalat Digital continued to foster open innovation with ‘Future more than 20 scaleups.
Now’ an innovation programme that will accelerate the adoption
of the latest technologies by collaborating with start-ups, IoT Future Now launched its own challenges with a participation of 10
developers, government entities, enterprises and end-users to scale-ups focusing on the enhancement of the customer journey
drive digital transformation. of B2B and SMB. There is also a dedicated area ‘Open Innovation
Center’ created by Etisalat in Dubai and Abu Dhabi which will be a
The business has also been part of Dubai Future Accelerator’s window to the future to witness and experience all this innovation
(DFA) nine-week programme since three years structured to and how Etisalat Digital is driving digital transformation journeys.

Source * 1 Source *2
3G- As of 28h September 2020 PWC https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/industries/technology/blockchain/blockchain-in-business.html
4G-As of 26th November 2020 Source *3
FTTH- As of 19th October 2020 Digital economy is next priority: Sheikh Mohammed - News | Khaleej Times)

12 NOVEMBER 2020