Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company ― the Dubai-based telecoms operator known as du — is forging ahead with more investments in its infrastructure and data centres, in line with the UAE's economic growth, its chief executive has said.
The recovery of key industries, including trade and tourism, as well the growth of digitalised government services, helped the company boost subscriber numbers and grow the reach of its services, Fahad Al Hassawi told The National at Gitex Technology Week in Dubai on Monday.
“We can see the UAE performing completely outside the norms of what’s happening elsewhere in the world, and it creates business demand and opportunities for telecom services,” Mr Al Hassawi said.
“There is a very big correlation between the economy and telecom companies — whenever gross domestic product does well and sees momentum, the telecom sector grows too.”
The telecoms sector, as with every other industry, was caught off guard by the sudden emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, which engulfed the world in early 2020 and brought economies to their knees.
But the industry played a key role in maintaining online activities in businesses, individual consumers and the overall society, through services such as the internet, broadband and mobile connectivity, especially as people were confined indoors.
While the health crisis forced telecom companies to pivot their strategies and adapt on the fly during the pandemic, Du saw this not just as a challenge but as an opportunity to test its resilience, Mr Al Hassawi said.
“Covid accelerated the needed transformation and digitalisation, and it made the end game more of a pressing need today,” he said.
“Resilience, adoption, the use of digital tools and the ability to transform and change priorities are the types of capabilities that will help any business in any situation.”
While Mr Al Hassawi declined to provide specific investment figures, he hinted that both investment and capital expenditure will increase.
“We do not usually give guidance,” he said.
Du boosted its network infrastructure investments by “more than 100 per cent” in 2021 at the height of the pandemic, its chief technology officer Saleem AlBlooshi told The National last month.
The company's plans for its data centres, meanwhile, remain steady, as it has “sufficient capability” to run those facilities amid a massive surge in demand for data services, Mr Al Hassawi said.
Building a new facility — du currently has two data centres in the UAE — will depend on market and business adoption, he added.
As most of its facilities — data centres included — were built using modular models, the company may not necessarily construct new premises, but rather add capacity to its existing ones, Mr Al Hassawi said.
He added that that technologies today have reached a stage of “extreme maturity”, making them capable of running services efficiently.
There is a very big correlation between the economy and telecom companies — whenever gross domestic product does well and sees momentum, the telecom sector grows too
Fahad Al Hassawi,
chief executive of du
The challenge is to combine these to provide a single integrated and complete solution that solves real business needs, which will be key for the services offered by telecom companies, Mr Al Hassawi said.
“We need to focus on getting things done today, not concepts — it cannot give you the full benefit of what you can achieve, and this is what drives value creation,” he said.
“We, as a sector, make the backbone of many others. If [telcos] don't have good digital infrastructure, many of the other sectors may not be able to cope, especially with the changing times [in technology and telecoms].”
EITC's second-quarter net profit rose by more than a quarter to Dh303 million ($82.5m), boosted by sustained demand for broadband and mobile services.
The company is tapping into the potential of the metaverse by working on a “strong programme” to construct digital twins of its data centres and infrastructure to boost operational efficiency, Mr AlBlooshi said last month.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
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The years Ramadan fell in May
MEFCC information
Tickets range from Dh110 for an advance single-day pass to Dh300 for a weekend pass at the door. VIP tickets have sold out. Visit www.mefcc.com to purchase tickets in advance.
The five pillars of Islam
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
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If you go...
Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
