Page 24 - SAMENA Trends - September 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Etisalat Group CEO Highlights UAE’s Push for Innovation Making it a

Destination for Everything Digital at GSMA Mobile 360 Eurasia Conference

The mobile industry is becoming a great the leadership’s efforts became a beacon build and maintain a competitive business
enabler across economies, by continuing for Etisalat and others to work tirelessly advantage, to drive new social and business
to build partnerships across industries to support the country to become one of opportunities, to increase revenue while
to enable meaningful economic growth, the top five countries around the world also ensuring security. The two-day event
expand employment opportunities, in terms of its technology infrastructure, also saw the participation of ministers,
and empowering societies at large, ICT adoption, and investment in telecom telecom regulators, data protection
emphasized Hatem Dowidar, CEO, Etisalat services. This has in turn inspired Etisalat authorities, identity authorities, and
Group, at his opening keynote on the first to continue with its investments in building senior representatives from international
day of the GSMA Mobile 360–Eurasia the world’s fastest network and cutting- organizations to discuss the growth of the
in Moscow. Dowidar participated in the edge technologies of the future.” The global digital economy. Discussions will
fourth edition of GSMA Mobile 360– GSMA Mobile 360 – Eurasia conference focus on technological breakthroughs that
Eurasia with his keynote, followed by a featured case studies and discussions bring solutions with the potential to enrich
panel discussion on ‘Empowering a Data- aimed at top-level regional and our everyday lives, and free people from
Driven Society’ with C-level executives international decision makers focusing mundane tasks, solving complex problems
from telcos, infrastructure companies and on how to harness new technologies to and generating value and prosperity.
technology providers. Main discussion
points focused on how crisis accelerates
innovations presents a choice, and is
the key to unlocking post crisis growth
with technologies such as AI, 5G, Big
Data, and IoT shaping the future and
transforming lives rapidly, reimagining
a more connected society. “The mobile
industry has an unrivalled global reach
and remains committed to actively
working with governments, international
institutions across global and regional
platforms. Progressive governments
play an important role in a data-driven
economy, reaping benefits with a robust
infrastructure and a much more evolved
regulatory environment supporting this
advancement. “The UAE is a great example;

Etisalat Reasserts Dominance as World’s Fastest Mobile Network for the
Second Consecutive Year

Ookla®, a global leader in fixed broadband the presence of Etisalat Group’s CEO mbps and an overall ranking in the ‘Speed
and mobile network testing applications, Hatem Dowidar, key Etisalat management Score’ at 153.05, Etisalat is the only
data and analytics, recognized Etisalat executives, and representatives from the operator globally to rank higher than 150
as the world’s fastest mobile network technology department. The ranking is as per Ookla® Speedtest® data. Etisalat
operator in 2021, reaffirming its dominance based on analysis by Ookla® of millions is the winner of the Speedtest Awards™ for
for the second year in a row. This global of tests actively initiated by customers both fastest mobile network globally and
recognition positions the UAE as the across every network to check internet fastest fixed broadband network in GCC
fastest nation on earth as it continues to speeds using various applications on during Q1-Q2 in 2021. Doug Suttles, CEO
reign the mobile speed country index on its web and mobile platforms. The Speedtest and co-founder of Ookla, said: “Speedtest
50th anniversary celebrations, fulfilling its Awards™ for top network providers are Awards™, presented by Ookla®, are
objectives to create a better tomorrow with determined using a ‘Speed Score™’ that reserved for an elite delegation of network
a brighter future. At an awards ceremony incorporates a measure of each provider’s operators that have delivered exceptional
held at Etisalat’s Al Kifaf building in Dubai, network speeds (download and upload) internet performance and coverage within
Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, CEO, Etisalat to rank network speed performance. With a market. “It is our pleasure to present
UAE Operations, received the award in an average download speed of 193.88 Etisalat with the awards for World's

24 SEPTEMBER 2021