Page 52 - SAMENA Trends - October 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

UAE at the Forefront of Digital Technology and Connectivity

Etisalat Group’s strong results are an and businesses to study and work remotely About this year participation in GITEX
outcome of our sincere efforts to drive during this period. Despite these unique GLOBAL, he explained, “Etisalat’s theme
growth and generate efficiencies despite market conditions, Etisalat managed to this year ‘Shaping the new Digital Era’
unprecedented challenges in certain grow positively due to the efficient highlights how in the new digital economy
markets, thanks to the flexibility and agility management of our operational expenses we can leverage technology to be agile in
in our efficient business model to deliver not affecting the quality of services while the face of disruption and create new
growth and a robust performance, said the increase in revenues was slightly business models– post-COVID, purpose
Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO, Etisalat, in an affected with investments focused on driven, sustainable and inclusive. It is
email interview ahead of the GITEX Global connecting all homes with fiber and about empowering the next era of digital
2021. He said, “This was positively launching enhanced offers for customers technology where 5G communication, AI,
reflected in the financial results of the to upgrade their home and mobile plans at IoT and machine learning enable a new
group with a market value of $58 billion no extra charge to support them to work way of living. GITEX gives us an opportunity
and revenues touching Dhs26.4 billion and study from home.“ Dowidar said, “We every year to meet with peers and
with a Year on Year (YoY) increase of 3.2 are confident that Etisalat Group will technology leaders from across the world
per cent and consolidated net profit after maintain its leadership position in the to share our experiences giving us an
federal royalty amounting to Dhs4.7 telecom industry with an unwavering opportunity to showcase capabilities of
billion.” Dowidar said, “These results are a commitment to key strategic priorities to telecom and technology to transform every
reflection of our continuous endeavor to enable a future driven by digital innovation industry from transport, retail, healthcare,
work in line with our strategic vision to across our operations. At Etisalat, we are education to fashion, automotive, utilities
‘Drive the digital future to empower determined to continue the incredible and entertainment.” About the company’s
societies’ while remaining focused on our transformation we have been experiencing overall performance, he added, “The
core business and exploring new growth in 2021 across our markets and believe successes during the first half of the year
opportunities ensuring that we are well that our major sustainable drivers of was not limited to financial performance
geared for the future with our digital growth at Etisalat remain to be our but also to the global achievements made
capabilities and solutions. On the international portfolio and efforts in the in our infrastructure and networks.
operations front, despite the challenges digital space. With regard to the latter, Etisalat’s network was recognized the
faced from the pandemic last year our there is strong potential in the cloud, IoT world’s fastest network and fastest fixed
robust plans on business continuity and and cyber security space, which will fuel network in the GCC. These efforts have
crisis management helped in maintaining future growth and rebalance telecom greatly impacted the country’s overall
growth and business across operations.” revenues and at the same time provide performance resulting to the UAE being
He added, “Many telcos faced major returns to shareholders and create added ranked the fastest country in the world in
challenges from global markets but UAE is value for customers. With people working January-June 2021 for average mobile
at the forefront of digital technology and and studying from home, there was an download speed and was the only country
connectivity and has the highest fiber exponential increase of 40 percent in the from the MEA region to be ranked in the top
penetration globally enabling consumers use of home internet during the pandemic.“ 20 countries globally in fixed broadband
index with the fastest average download
speeds, as reported on the Speedtest
Global Index. “He said, “This global
recognition is a result of the relentless
efforts of UAE leadership for the past 50
years, and is a shining example of nation
building with the growth and development
achieving endless success. This is also in
line with the late Sheikh Zayed’s vision to
lay the foundation for future generations to
build on. Thanks to the support of the
UAE’s wise leadership, our partners, and
the regulatory authority Etisalat achieved
leadership with the launch of the 5G
network and succeeded in achieving the
highest penetration rate in Fiber to the
Home (FTTH) globally for a third
consecutive year.” About the group global
portfolio performance, Dowidar said,
“Etisalat Group today operates across 16

52 OCTOBER 2021