Page 17 - SAMENA Trends - September 2021

INTERVIEW SAMENA TRENDS

Many telcos faced major challenges from our international portfolio and efforts in GITEX gives us an
global markets but UAE is at the forefront the digital space. With regard to the latter,
of digital technology and connectivity and there is strong potential in the cloud, IoT opportunity every year
has the highest fibre penetration globally and cyber security space, which will fuel to meet with peers and
enabling consumers and businesses to future growth and rebalance telecom
study and work remotely during this period. revenues and at the same time provide technology leaders from
returns to shareholders and create added across the world to share
Despite these unique market conditions, value for customers. With people working
Etisalat managed to grow positively and studying from home, there was an our experiences giving
due to the efficient management of our exponential increase of 40 percent in the us an opportunity to
operational expenses not affecting the use of home internet during the pandemic.
quality of services while the increase showcase capabilities of
in revenues was slightly affected with Q. What is Etisalat’s theme this year and telecom and technology
investments focused on connecting all can you explain the rationale behind it at
homes with fiber and launching enhanced GITEX Global? to transform every
offers for customers to upgrade their A. Etisalat’s theme this year ‘Shaping industry from transport,
home and mobile plans at no extra charge the new Digital Era’ highlights how in the
to support them to work and study from new digital economy we can leverage retail, healthcare,
home. Certain sectors were also adversely technology to be agile in the face of education to fashion,
affected like tourism and aviation which disruption and create new business
invariably affected the company revenues models– post-COVID, purpose driven, automotive, utilities and
as well, however we focused our energies sustainable and inclusive. It is about entertainment.
on new digital services such as cloud empowering the next era of digital
computing and cybersecurity that became technology where 5G communication, AI, Q. What are the major driving factors that
major enablers for business. IoT and machine learning enable a new have added value to Etisalat’s leadership
way of living. position and to the overall company
We are confident that Etisalat Group will performance?
maintain its leadership position in the GITEX gives us an opportunity every A. The successes during the first half
telecom industry with an unwavering year to meet with peers and technology of the year was not limited to financial
commitment to key strategic priorities leaders from across the world to share performance but also to the global
to enable a future driven by digital our experiences giving us an opportunity achievements made in our infrastructure
innovation across our operations. At to showcase capabilities of telecom and networks.
Etisalat, we are determined to continue the and technology to transform every
incredible transformation we have been industry from transport, retail, healthcare, Etisalat’s network was recognised the
experiencing in 2021 across our markets education to fashion, automotive, utilities world’s fastest network and fastest fixed
and believe that our major sustainable and entertainment. network in the GCC. These efforts have
drivers of growth at Etisalat remain to be greatly impacted the country’s overall
performance resulting to the UAE being
ranked the fastest country in the world in
January-June 2021 for average mobile
download speed and was the only country
from the MEA region to be ranked in the top
20 countries globally in fixed broadband
index with the fastest average download
speeds, as reported on the Speedtest
Global Index™.

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.

17 SEPTEMBER 2021