Etisalat fuels Mobile World Congress leadership summit
With papers from top group executives to shape the future of the industry
Barcelona and UAE, 28th February, 2012: A delegation of senior Etisalat executives feature this week at the Mobile World Congress leadership summit, the leading global telecommunications conference held annually in Barcelona, Spain.
The summit brings together the world leaders in the telecommunications sector to discuss the rapid evolution of the industry as a leading enabler of socio-economic development. Mobile broadband connectivity is a catalyst for economic growth and social development.
The Etisalat delegation was led by His Excellency Mohammed Omran, Etisalat chairman and H.E. Ahmed Abdulkarim Julfar, group chief executive officer, among other senior group executives.
‘The Connected Consumer’ was the key theme of the summit where chief executives from the world’s leading retail, advertising and mobile companies discussed the challenges and opportunities for telecommunications companies as consumers rapidly shift their behavior to the online world.
The mobile handset is the device that bridges the digital divide and statistics released by the GSMA, the global association of the mobile industry, show that economies can expect a one percent growth in GDP for every ten percent rise in mobile phone penetration.
Etisalat participation at Mobile World Congress includes three papers delivered by Etisalat senior executives. Khalifa al Shamsi, senior vice president technology and network strategy, presented a keynote speech titled ‘Managing data intelligently for intelligent partnering’ which highlights the imperative of telecommunications providers to safeguard personal data while providing the networks, multi-channel customer care and billing, and payment and collection platforms to facilitate the rapid development of the connected world.
The second paper delivered by George Held, senior director products and services, Etisalat Group, detailed Etisalat`s experience in developing its innovative Mobile Baby platform to harness mobile connectivity to create affordable healthcare for all and help combat maternal mortality. In Tanzania where Etisalat first launched the service, there has been a 30 percent drop in baseline maternal mortality rates.
Dr. Kamal Shehadi, senior vice president regulatory affairs, Etisalat Group presented a paper which unveiled the Etisalat DEEP (Develop, Enable, Explore, Promote) Mobile Ecosystem to unlock the socio-economic growth potential of mobile broadband connectivity in emerging markets.
“The digital economy can foster innovation and socio-economic growth in the Middle East and Africa region. There is huge opportunity to capitalize on the rapid deployment of mobile broadband connectivity to turbo-charge economic growth and social development, but it will take a coordinated effort among stakeholders, policymakers and industry players to realize that potential,” said Dr Shehadi.
Etisalat was also nominated in four categories at the prestigious GSMA Awards for its Mobile Baby, mCommerce, Touch’N’Go and Etisalat DotMe innovations. Mobile World Congress runs from 27th February to 1st March in Barcelona, Spain.
About Etisalat:-
Strong commitment to excellence and innovation has seen Etisalat become one of the world’s fastest-growing telecom groups, rapidly expanding across Asia and Africa. Its UAE operations, strategically located at the crossroads of East and West, enables Etisalat to be the major hub in the Middle East for Internet, voice, broadcast, roaming and corporate data services. Etisalat has been recognised as ‘Best Operator’ 10 times since 2006 and ‘Best Wholesale Provider’ four times in the last three years. Servicing over 167 million customers in 17 countries Etisalat continues to reach out to new customers and markets.
For more information:-
Ms. Nahid M. Hassan
Etisalat Group Senior Manager Media Relations
E: nahelsayed@etisalat.ae
T: 0097126172187
M.0506006556
