Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), the Dubai-based telecoms operator known as du, is tapping into the potential of the metaverse to enhance its network capabilities, its chief technology officer has said.
The company is working on a “strong programme” to construct digital twins of its data centres and infrastructure to boost operational efficiency, decrease costs and improve quality, Saleem AlBlooshi told The National.
“The metaverse is unavoidable. As a direct result of this, using the internet will result in a higher level of emotional engagement,” he said.
“We consider the metaverse to be a game changer in the next phase, and its anticipation drives network bandwidth,” he added, referring to the maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over a network and which is expected to increase significantly with the growing number of users.
The digital twins will be able to simulate various scenarios, which, in turn, can be replicated in the company's actual physical operations, Mr AlBlooshi said.
The metaverse is the emerging space where people can interact in virtual worlds using three-dimensional representations.
The technology can allow companies to streamline operations through interactive means. In the case of industries, it can immerse workers in a digital replica of their infrastructure with the help of hardware such as augmented reality headsets and the related software.
In a recent global survey by Accenture, 71 per cent of respondents said shifting to the metaverse will have a positive business impact.
Du boosted its network infrastructure investments by “more than 100 per cent” in 2021 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr AlBlooshi said. Those investments did not involve the metaverse, but have set the company up for its latest plans to tap into the virtual world.
As with other industries that needed to cope with the new reality stemming from the global health crisis, the pandemic prompted du to ramp up their investments. Before Covid-19 hit, the company in 2019 said it was increasing its capital expenditure by 70 per cent to boost the roll-out of its 5G services.
“The acceleration of investments shows the commitment of the telecoms industry in rolling out better infrastructure,” Mr AlBlooshi said.
“Networks that will deal with the metaverse must have huge capacity, computing power and low latency to be able to accommodate the components of the metaverse, particularly blockchain networks and connected devices that are expected to explode in the coming years.”
The number of connected devices globally, which will comprise the Internet of Things, is projected to more than double to about 29.4 billion by 2030 from an estimated 13.1 billion in 2022, data from Statista show.
The pandemic also shifted the company's business model by making it more agile to keep up with the fast pace of change in user demographics, particularly in providing services from offices to homes and, eventually, any place users decide to perform their tasks, he said.
Historically, telecoms companies have never failed to address the demand from consumers ... otherwise, it would've been a disaster
Saleem AlBlooshi,
chief technology officer, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company
“Customers today are more attached to the network; therefore, we have to ensure that the criteria or the way we are managing this whole infrastructure has to change according to the changes of our customer needs.”
It also prompted du to tap into artificial intelligence, which, Mr AlBlooshi said, enables the company to further digitise its network and, more importantly, predict user behaviour.
Meanwhile, the shift to the next mobile communication standard, 6G, is expected to be sooner than the gap between 4G and 5G, Mr AlBlooshi said. He added that while still at an early stage, regulators are already engaged in discussions to define the technology and draw up its accompanying standards.
“Historically, telecoms companies have never failed to address the demand from consumers,” Mr AlBlooshi said.
EITC reported a 26.2 per cent increase in its second-quarter net profit, boosted by sustained demand for broadband and mobile services.
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 3 (Kroos 4', Ramos 30', Marcelo 37')
Eibar 1 (Bigas 60')
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
List of UAE medal winners
Gold
Faisal Al Ketbi (Open weight and 94kg)
Talib Al Kirbi (69kg)
Omar Al Fadhli (56kg)
Silver
Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Khalfan Belhol (85kg)
Zayed Al Mansoori (62kg)
Mouza Al Shamsi (49kg women)
Bronze
Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi (Open and 94kg)
Saood Al Hammadi (77kg)
Said Al Mazroui (62kg)
Obaid Al Nuaimi (56kg)
Bashayer Al Matrooshi (62kg women)
Reem Abdulkareem (45kg women)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
