Page 24 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

“5G and Digital Transformation in the Energy Sector will Bring Immense

Opportunities for Innovation and Value Creation,” Says Etisalat Group’s
Chief Strategy and Governance Officer

than hundreds of thousands of sensors with a
single 5G station. Al Shamsi said: “Today there
are immense opportunities with 5G for industrial
verticals looking for new ways to enable innovation
with futuristic technologies such as IoT, AI and
robotics improving efficiency and productivity,
supporting the development of new products and
services. 5G is the cornerstone for Industry 4.0 and
key for digital enablement, industry stakeholders
must collaborate to pilot, trial and experiment
with advanced technologies that are critical to
capture the full potential of the energy sector.”
“With Etisalat’s focus on ‘Driving the Digital
Future to Empower Societies’ we work closely
with the energy and utilities sector in supporting
them leverage the benefits from the 5G network
and technology, innovate jointly, optimize their
business processes and provide more efficient
and profitable business. Etisalat also participated
in panel sessions aimed at sharing best practice
and identifying solutions for the key issues facing
the sector. Alberto Araque, Vice President, IoT &
Digital Payments, Etisalat Digital, joined global
energy leaders and experts in a panel discussion
on “The age of digitalization: a new vision for
energy systems”. Kamran Ahsan, Senior Director,
Security Solutions, Etisalat Digital, participated in
a panel discussion titled “Cybersecurity, 3 clicks
from collapse” that highlighted the importance of
increasing resilience to cyber risk to current and
future energy security. Etisalat’s stand featured
live demos and presentations on IoT and security,
namely Smart Service Station, Connected Worker,
Smart Utilities, Device Security, Industrial Control
Systems (ICS) Security Infrastructure, and ICS
Security Operations. The World Energy Congress
is the world’s largest and most influential energy
5G and digital transformation in the energy sector will bring plenty of opportunities event covering all aspects of the energy agenda.
for value creation and innovation. Collaboration and open innovation among High profile attendees included ministers, energy
telecom operators, industries and governments will bring joint 5G success, leaders, and prominent experts. Running since
creating new eco-systems and business models, said Khalifa Al Shamsi, Chief 1924, the Congress enables dialogue among
Strategy and Governance Officer, Etisalat Group. Al Shamsi explained the Ministers, CEOs, policy-makers and industry
advantages of 5G technology compared to previous wireless generations and practitioners on important developments in
shared the various features it brings to industries during his keynote titled the energy sector. Under the theme ‘Energy for
‘Leveraging 5G to Drive Sustainability & Enable innovation in the Energy Sector’ Prosperity’, the 24th World Energy Congress
during the 24th World Energy Congress (WEC) held from 9–12 September defines the strategy for a collaborative, sustainable
2019 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. His keynote stressed on the and innovative energy future that enables societal,
important role of Etisalat as a telco and digital solutions provider to innovate in commercial and community prosperity. It marked
tailoring specific vertical solutions by working closely with partners. The mass the first time the Congress has been hosted in
connectivity of sensors and IoT devices is extremely relevant as up to 1 million a Middle Eastern city, and by an OPEC member
devices can be connected in a square km, increasing the potential of remotely country, in the event’s 95-year history.
covering and monitoring a huge location like an oil field or a refinery with more

24 SEPTEMBER 2019