MENA region plays a critical role as a technology hub and driving engine in the digital economy, says Khalifa Al Shamsi

Dubai, 26 November 2018:   The MENA region is emerging rapidly on the global scene making a major impact on economic agendas aiming to position the region as a technology hub and a driving engine in the digital economy, highlighted Khalifa Al Shamsi, Chief Corporate Governance and Strategy Officer at the Mobile 360 series-MENA conference held in Dubai.

 

The conference focused on key trends in the telecom sector and increasing impact of the industry on the digital ecosystem and the evolution path of the ICT transformation journey. 

 

The event kicked off with a keynote from Khalifa Al Shamsi, Chief Corporate Strategy and Governance Officer, Etisalat Group. The opening speech focused on Etisalat’s changing role as an operator which is vital today to increase global competitiveness, productivity and innovation in the country. In Etisalat, the company has led in digital transformation developing the telecom value chain and leveraging on core strengths and strategic assets to be able to generate returns out of this transformation.

 

Operators should be the driving force behind the maturity of the digital ecosystem, with capital investments, active involvement in shaping a favorable regulatory landscape, relevant partnerships, broad foresight for potential use cases, and the willingness to trial, pilot and launch new technologies.

 

Hatem Dowidar, Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat International, led the discussion in the opening CEO panel on ‘Regional Visions for Technology’s Transformative Power’. The panel highlighted how the region has showcased how ICT and telecommunications are core to businesses and individuals today with digital maturity taking a lead in implementing futuristic technologies and solutions. Today, the region has taken a global lead by taking the lead in 5G enabling operators to be at the forefront of innovation. These dynamics in the mobile ecosystem will lead to a significant contribution to the economy in the region.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Other speakers from Etisalat were Kamran Ahsan, Senior Director, Security Solutions at Etisalat Digital; and Alberto Araque, Vice President, Internet of Things and Digital Payment at Etisalat Digital.

 

During discussions on ‘Mitigating the Cybersecurity Risk’, best approaches on how to achieve resilience and protect companies from the ever-growing threat posed by cyberattacks were highlighted. For the workshop on ‘IoT and 5G: Enabling the Digital Society’, the main topics were focused on how top IoT and 5G partners could collaborate and build the 5G ecosystem, achieve sustainable business target and enable the digital society.

 

Etisalat has an exclusive partnership with GSMA for Mobile 360 series-MENA conference in 2018 and 2019. The conference, which runs on 26 and 27 November in Dubai, is a regional platform that attracts telecom leaders from across the global and regional mobile industry to address key challenges and opportunities in the mobile ecosystem.