The operator stated it would use Amdocs’ amAIz offering to integrate genAI services, utilising agents and skills to “improve business efficiencies, reshape customer experience and interactions and increase revenue opportunities in multiple telco domains”.

Amdocs will offer a telco specific guardrail control mechanism with logging and auditing capabilities, role-based access control and privacy compliance measures to deliver “a safe and secure approach to genAI integration”.

The project is supported through Amdocs’ partnership with Nvidia, which utilises the chip giant’s AI platforms to build, customise and deploy genAI models.

Marwan Bin Shakar, acting CTIO at e& said the partnership with Amdocs makes it one of the first service providers to integrate genAI, helping to lead the industry’s transformation toward an AI driven future.

“We are deploying telco-specific agents with built-in guardrails to enhance customer care, retail, and network operations, delivering faster resolution times, smarter recommendations, and clear efficiency gains,” he said.

At the recent MWC25 Doha, e& group CEO Hatem Dowidar also outlined the company’s commitment to an AI-driven transformation, while highlighting the need for the wider industry to adopt the technology.

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Group CEO of e& presents at MWC Doha in the session: Powering Intelligent Economies: From Infrastructure to Impact

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Dowidar told delegates telecoms was increasingly seen as a utility, with people caring more about their smartphone than the SIM inside it, making the operator’s role essentially “invisible”.

However, he insisted the operator was still essential, doing things that no one else can, arguing more people would tolerate a power cut than a connectivity outage.

“We are empowering supply chains, healthcare, commerce and much more,” said Dowidar. “Without connectivity, these activities cannot happen. They will grind to a halt. So with the right connectivity and with the right solutions, industries will flourish and economies will thrive. We can do a lot more in every country where we operate.”

To that end, Dowidar said e& has invested heavily in an evolution beyond basic connectivity, highlighting three areas where the operator was having the most impact, underpinned by standalone 5G.

First, he pointed to a private 5G deployment with Abu Dhabi oil giant ADNOC, which covers 11,000 square kilometres and ensures its connectivity covers onshore and offshore island activities.

“This is not just for show, this is delivering real returns,” he said.

Second, the executive highlighted a sovereign cloud push in partnership with AWS. He said this would benefit all sorts of enterprises across the region with data sovereignty requirements.

Thirdly, Dowidar pushed advancement in drone technology, with e& working with the UAE’s Cyber Security Council and civil aviation authorities to deploy the devices for delivery, traffic management, public safety and more.

On the customer side, he added it was looking to advance services around digital banking and lifestyle and entertainment.

“That’s what we mean by a techco”, concluded Dowidar. “We’re not just connecting people. We are creating platforms and generating new revenue streams.”

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The UAE-based steel and building materials manufacturer described the move as a “significant step” toward its Industry 4.0 ambitions.

Its first application to use the pilot network is the Asset Insight app. It provides the means for workers to scan QR codes on equipment using industrial-grade tablets to access real-time documentation, maintenance history and sensor data.

The app can then be used to log any maintenance requests in an attempt to “minimise downtime and costly repairs while boosting maintenance efficiency and safety”.

In a statement, the manufacturer noted the network worked across its “extensive and complex industrial environments, overcoming the limitations of traditional connectivity solutions”.

The company added keeping data secure within its on-premises infrastructure “enables the secure integration of high-tech projects”.

Emsteel CEO Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi said the network was “more than a technological upgrade; it is a fundamental shift in how we operate, innovate, and ensure the safety of our people and assets”.

“This pilot launch reinforces our commitment to pioneering sustainable and efficient manufacturing practices, setting a new benchmark for the industrial sector both regionally and globally.”

In a LinkedIn post, the executive added it would empower smart factories, predictive maintenance and real-time decision making.

The two unveiled plans for the private 5G move in October last year, promoting it at the time as the first of its kind in the manufacturing sector. Initially e& noted the kit would cut the industrial player’s operational costs, up productivity and support health and safety applications.  

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In a statement, e& Enterprise explained the Customer Engagement Hub combined the expertise of both parties, with Infobip’s systems related to data and chatbot building enhancing its existing engageX range.

The hub is designed for companies of all sizes, and provides the means to deliver marketing and other information based on key customer data including their interests and activities.

It is also designed to improve operational efficiency by centralising data management, analysis and optimisation, along with providing access to various communications channels from a single platform.

Infobip director Zeid Shubailat said: “In today’s competitive landscape, customer experience in both the private and public sectors is more critical than ever”.

VP customer experience at e& Enterprise Ahmed Abdi Omer added companies need systems which “not only offer insights into customer needs but also provide seamless engagement on their preferred channels”.

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An memorandum of understanding between the two is set to cover a wide range of industry areas and is being positioned as supporting regional businesses and multinationals operating in the market.

Products and services set to be delivered under the agreement include mobile private networks, software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN) and offerings in the realms of cloud and cybersecurity.

In addition to the initial focus areas the two identified companies in sectors including logistics, manufacturing, retail and the public sector as potential customers.

Vodafone Business product and international business director Fanan Henriques said the partnership could “boost the adoption of new digital services in Morocco in support of the country’s digital ambitions”.

“Maroc Telecom’s local expertise and digital skills combined with Vodafone’s scalable, secure platforms will underpin new fintech, healthcare, and industrial applications driven by a young workforce and start-up culture,” he added.

The move is the latest tie-up between Vodafone and a company under the e& umbrella, following the latter’s investment in the UK-based operator group and subsequent strategic partnership signed in 2023, which included an element dedicated to the enterprise market.

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Information is relayed to an operation centre where staff can track live feeds from the unmanned vehicles, oversee flight progress, verify safety protocols and ensure accuracy.

In a statement, the operator noted unlike traditional means of checking towers, the drones are able to navigate complex environments autonomously and operate in extreme weather conditions.

During inspections AI analytics tools are able to detect factors including structural anomalies, providing the information for proactive maintenance of the assets.   

E& UAE acting CTIO Marwan Bin Shakar said use of the drone system would enhance “the safety and accuracy of telecom tower inspections while enabling faster, data-driven decisions that futureproof our infrastructure”.

The unmanned vehicles are also set to play a more general role in emergency response in the country, supporting the delivery of critical support and resources where they are needed.

The Drones Operations Centre where the vehicles are controlled is a collaboration with the UAE Cyber Security Council and General Civil Aviation Authority.

In October 2024, the operator announced a plan to work with authorities on the use of 5G drones for various civil use cases.

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Hatem Dowidar, CEO of e& (pictured), KDDI chief Makoto Takahashi and Ralph Mupita, CEO with MTN Group, noted a common theme for their businesses was a need to adapt to changing times or provide services which enabled more than connectivity alone from the outset.

Pipework
The e& chief summarised the situation facing many operators globally, with the rise of OTT alternatives to traditional money-spinning services including SMS and voice reducing many to “being a pipe of packets, just carrying data across the networks”.

It was an unsustainable prospect given the “huge cost structure” and “massive investments” operators made.

The operator’s strategy was one of decentralisation under a fresh brand, enabling it to move into new verticals while still benefitting from the synergies of the existing organisation’s technology and reach.

Dowidar compared the new structure to an airport because e& is able to do “different things at the same time”, through a series of vertical businesses which “operate with flexibility, with accountability”.

He explained the perception of the company was more of a challenge than the technology aspect because e&’s previous name literally meant telecommunications and so it had to carefully manage its shift while still maintaining core connectivity services.

It was about “really putting cutting edge tools and tech in the hands of our customers, empowering them to go forward”.

Transcending outer space
KDDI is taking a similar approach, with vertical units occupying the same orbits but still being free to operate independently within a broader whole.

Takahashi (pictured, left) explained technologies including 5G, data and AI are at the heart of KDDI’s orbital strategies, the sun around which its other services revolve.

The first orbit covers sectors including finance and energy, with another path encompassing healthcare; Web 3 and metaverse; mobility; sports and entertainment; and space connectivity.

KDDI is already employing Space X’s Starlink service for rural backhaul and maritime connectivity, among others, but Takahashi noted the collaboration is also proving invaluable in “emergencies and disasters”, along with highlighting how partnerships are proving essential in enabling operators to move beyond traditional connectivity.

Agile Africa
Mupita acknowledged operators have more to offer than just connectivity, but highlighted they do not all have the same resources available.

The typical ARPU available to Mupita’s operation is in the $2 to $3 range, meaning the company must be more imaginative and creative than players booking figures in the double digits.

Mupita (pictured, left) noted connectivity had been the heart of MTN’s mission since its foundation in 1994, but explained this is as much about enabling access to connectivity as providing the networks themselves, along with focusing on enabling people to use various services.

The connectivity gap in Africa is now less of a barrier than the usage gap, which Mupita said still stands at around 50 per cent when it comes to data services.

MTN is widely known as a driver of financial inclusion through its mobile money services: Mupita noted the group employed technology to enable “people who previously did not have financial services to benefit from what all of us sitting here in this room have, which is the dignity of being able to transact”, send money and “create and drive micro e-commerce businesses”.

Mupita laid bare the scale of the achievement, stating MTN now has “more than 60 million subscribers actively using our mobile money solutions”.

The service is arguably an example of how MTN has always been more tech-co and less pure telco, but Mupita noted there are still opportunities to build its credentials in the former, highlighting private 5G as one.

He used the mining industry as an example, explaining MTN is using network slicing to enable it to create private networks for specific operations.

Like Takahashi, the MTN chief believes partnerships are necessary to advance its service strategy and ensure the operator is “having a real impact”.

The CEO said MTN is “truly inspired by Africa’s potential”, pointing to the “agility of this youthful continent” and the potential to provide it with “its own position as the relevant continent that it’s going to be” by 2050.

“We truly believe in Africa”, Mupita said, explaining MTN the tech-co “can give our people dignity, hope and opportunity”.

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The transactions have a combined value of almost €1.5 billion, with e& PPF Telecom paying €825 million for broadband and cable business SBB doo Belgrade and Eon TV International being bought by Telekom Srbija for €652 million.

United Group, which owns telecoms and broadcast assets across south-eastern Europe, will retain its news and entertainment channels broadcast in Serbia.

In its statement on the deal, e& PPF Telecom explained under the terms of the agreement it would carve out SBB’s direct-to-home satellite operations which are to be sold to Telekom Srbija.  

It added the deal had a “very clear strategic rationale” with the assets being acquired “perfectly complementing” its Yettel telecoms operation in the country.

CEO of e& PPF Balesh Sharma added the buy was the “the first acquisition by the recently established e& PPF Telecom and is an example of the strategic partnership between PPF and e& already creating value”.

Alongside its deal to buy Eon TV International, which operates in Serbia and North Macedonia, Telekom Srbija acquired a range of sports broadcasting rights for the Western Balkans from United Group.

In its statement, United Group CEO Victoriya Boklag said the “divestments are in line with our strategy to sharpen our focus on the markets where we can provide the full spectrum of mobile and fixed telecommunication services to our customers, which will enable us to realise the greatest potential for growth and value creation”.

“By streamlining our operations and refocusing on EU markets, we are enhancing our efficiency and positioning United Group for long-term success.”

The deals are expected to be completed later in H1 subject to regulatory approval.

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The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is Ericsson’s latest move related to the next generation of mobile technology, which is generally expected to have its first commercial launches around 2030 and is already the subject of preparation work from various players and nations across the globe.

In a statement the operator and vendor explained the move covered “collaborative exploration of 6G technology” serving as an “early engagement for defining the next generation of future mobile network evolution”.

They plan to conduct technical discussions including on areas deemed by the duo to be “key” 6G concepts.

Ericsson MEA VP and head of global consumer unit Ekow Nelson said: “We have barely scratched the surface with 5G which will overtake 4G and become the dominant mobile technology after 2027 and, with 5G Standalone and 5G Advanced, realise its transformative potential over the next several years”.

“At the same time, we have started the proactive approach to 6G research with our partners to shape the next generation of mobile networks,” he added, noting with the collaboration with e& it aimed to use “our shared expertise to drive progress in the development of 6G for the United Arab Emirates and the wider region.”

Ericsson claims 6G is expected to provide a “step-change in the future of communication by merging the digital and physical worlds into a seamless reality enabled by trustworthy systems, cognitive networks, and a pervasive network compute fabric”.

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Announced at the Gitex Global event in Dubai, the agreement with Ericsson will see the pair partner for three-years to explore the benefits of autonomous networks, which the companies believe have the potential to “transform” mobile networks.

This will also deepen e&’s own moves around responsible AI deployments, and there are plans for the partners to focus on key areas encompassing use of the technology to boost innovation, network autonomy and environmental sustainability goals.

As part of the deal, Ericsson and e& will develop a “strategic roadmap” to assist the development of autonomous networks over several years, as well as explore the ways AI can support network performance, customer care and wider green objectives; the latter of which involves efforts around building energy-efficient networks.

Ericsson will provide its expertise in AI, 5G and cloud technologies.

CTO at e& International, Sabri Yehya, said the agreement “marks a critical step in our journey toward autonomous networks, which will not only transform the way we operate but also enable us to meet our ambitious net-zero targets”.

Yehya added e&’s responsible use of AI will help it drive “positive changes across the industry and civil society”.

Drones
Separately, e& will introduce 5G drones as part of its collaboration with the UAE’s cybersecurity council, a tie-up geared towards solidifying the country’s security infrastructure and drone traffic management.

The “UAE drones”, as the operator called it, are equipped with threat detection, prevention and response systems.

They will be employed as part of the country’s cybersecurity tools, complete with a cloud platform to “unify processes across multiple stakeholders, including operators and government agencies”.

e& CEO Masood M. Sharif Mahmood said the drones mirror the company’s “capacities beyond connectivity as a comprehensive digital solutions provider”, in line with UAE’s target to establish itself as the centre of “technology-led solutions”.

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Under the deal, Vodafone will deploy its global e-SIM technology to activate in-car connected services, with e& expected to grant partner access to its “extensive coverage in the territory” as well as the IoT capabilities enabled by its network.

The companies claim the agreement “can provide seamless cross-border connectivity, making it easier and more efficient for customers to access connected services globally”.

Vodafone described connectivity from e-SIM as “locally configured”, meaning it satisfies all connectivity standards and requirements in the UAE to guarantee “reliable and secure experience”.

Through the partnership, Mercedes-Benz drivers will be able to “take advantage of fully integrated in-car services, such as popular music streaming apps, personalised infotainment and for the vehicle manufacturer to have access to telematics services and over-the-air software updates”.

The deal is also expected to give Vodafone and e& “a broader reach” to serve digital automotive solutions of OEMs.

“By amplifying Vodafone’s global IoT capabilities with e& UAE’s secure connectivity services and reliable network, we’re set to deliver a truly seamless and innovative solution for Mercedes-Benz in the country,” Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, e& CEO, commented.

The agreement builds on an existing strategic partnership announced in May 2023.

Today, e& owns holds a 15.1 per cent stake in Vodafone, up from an initial 9.8 per cent in 2022.

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Dowidar said operators can now experiment like dotcom companies by analysing customer behaviour and making better predictions to link various services. 

The operator has fully automated its sales process using AI and machine vision, which he said allows it to open shops for much longer and customers to buy everything from an accessory to an iPhone.

It recently opened a second automated retail store, with plans to roll out more.

He said its marketing has moved to a segment-of-one concept, analysing each customer’s needs, delivering the service and suggesting what they may need next.

For customer care it is using AI in various ways, mainly chatbots, which are becoming more sophisticated: it developed a voice version using some of the more developed language models it has, he said. 

It has used AI for network optimisation for a long time.

The CEO noted having the right 5G and fibre infrastructure is essential for AI because many of the services rely on data loading, which can only be supported by the latest technologies.

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The companies signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding covering development of AI-based use cases and ICT to boost the efficiency, safety and productivity of industrial sites.

Nokia stated many industrial sectors face challenges in those fields, along with health and sustainability.

Thierry Klein, president of Bell Labs Solutions Research, said the company brings expertise in “responsible AI, software and data systems” to the e& collaboration. When combined with the UAE-based operator’s AI capabilities, the tie-up will “accelerate” digital transformation by delivering fresh technologies “for a safer, more productive and more sustainable future”, he said.

Nokia stated network connectivity, AI and advanced computing will be a bedrock of the pair’s collaboration, which the vendor believes will help turn industrial automation concepts into reality.

Dena Almansoori, chief AI and data officer with e&, argued there is a need to ensure the potential of the technology is tempered by “strong protections to ensure its responsible development and deployment”.

Klein indicated the pair’s initial target markets will be in the Middle East, though added they could ultimately look beyond the region.

The vendor noted Nokia Bell Labs is developing AI based on the principles of “fairness, reliability, privacy, transparency, sustainability and accountability”, factors it believes align with a broader telecom industry focus on environmental and social responsibility.

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The decision marks the conclusion of the EC’s first probe under Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) introduced in 2023 to rein in what would be deemed as unfair state support for overseas companies.

It launched the in-depth investigation in June after a preliminary probe indicated e& and UAE sovereign wealth fund Emirates Investment Authority (EIA), which owns a 60 per cent stake in the operator, received subsidies from the UAE which could distort the European Union (EU) internal market.

These included guarantees from the UAE and a loan from state-owned banks enabling the PPF acquisition.

However, following the FSR probe, the EC decided foreign subsidies received by e& did not lead to actual or potential negative effects on competition in the acquisition process.

“E& was the sole bidder for the target and had sufficient own resources to perform the acquisition,” the EC stated.

To address remaining competition concerns, e&’s remedy package includes a pledge to remove an unlimited state guarantee, a prohibition of any financing from e& and EIA for PPF’s activities in the EU and an agreement any financing for activities outside the EU would be subject to oversight by the EC.

E& is seeking to acquire a stake of 50 per cent plus one share in PPF Telecom Group, covering assets in Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia and Slovakia. Operations in Czech Republic are excluded from the deal.

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The JV was announced at MWC Barcelona 2024 and is one of the first projects under the GTAA since its formation in July 2023.

Ahead of the launch, executives from founders e&, Singtel, SK Telecom and Deutsche Telekom took to the stage here to discuss what they expect from telco-specific LLMs, along with future plans for the alliance, which also counts SoftBank Corp as a member.

Harrison Lung, group CSO at e& (pictured, centre) said the initiative is really designed to “identify and solve telco specific use cases”, employing data generated by the quintet of operators in the various markets they cover.

Referring to e&, he noted it operates in 16 different markets globally, where various languages are spoken and customer bases are diverse.

“The idea is to have the telco LLM asset solve various topics and issues within these markets,” he said.

Going forward, Lung said it planned to extend this asset to new business models, helping other organisations and companies “who are even less advanced and even clueless about AI”.

As a telecom and technology company, he said e& wants to use AI capabilities across its wider assets, for example within streaming service Starzplay and taxi booking app Careem, to create more personalised services for users.

Expansion
Jan Hofmann, head of AI competence centre at Deutsche Telekom (pictured, second from left) opened the door on offering the LLM beyond the footprints of its current members.

SG Chung, chief AI global officer at SK Telecom (pictured, right), also said he expected the alliance to include other telcos and technology partners in the future, adding aggregating efforts would leave operators better placed to improve customer service interactions through AI.

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Announcing the second-stage investigation, the regulator highlighted its preliminary look found sufficient indications the buying company received subsidies which could distort the European Union (EU) internal market.

Alleged subsidies comprise guarantees from the UAE and a loan from state-controlled banks directly enabling the purchase of the PPF stake.  

The EC will look into whether subsidies e& allegedly received have altered the outcome of the acquisition attempt so far by giving it the financial clout to see off other parties. It will also assess any potential negative effects on the European market moving forward.

Its investigation falls under regulations brought in for the economic bloc in July 2023 designed to prevent market distortion deriving from foreign subsidies which offer an unfair advantage over other companies operating in the region.

Operator e& announced the deal to buy a stake of 50 per cent plus one share in PPF Telecom Group in August 2023. It covers assets in Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia and Slovakia.

PPF’s operations in the Czech Republic were excluded.

The EC is working to a deadline of 15 October to make a judgement on the deal.

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Bloomberg revealed United Group’s majority owner BC Partners is working with advisers to discuss the sale of the company, potentially seeking a valuation of €8 billion and e& had emerged as a suitor.

BC Partners bought a majority stake in United Group in 2019 from investment company KKR, which retains a minority stake alongside the operator’s management team.

The outlet reported e& “has been evaluating the possible purchase” of United Group, which provides broadband, mobile connectivity and pay-TV content in eight European markets.

Bloomberg’s sources added deliberations between e& and BC Partners are still in a premature phase, and there is a possibility for United Group to be sold “to multiple buyers”.

BC Partners expects to start a formal sale process as early as next month.

e& has a 14.6 per cent stake in Vodafone Group, in which it initially bought a 9.8 per cent stake in 2022 as part of a strategy to increase exposure outside of its home market. Its ownership in Vodafone has been under the UK security authorities’ microscope.

Hatem Dowidar, CEO at e&, was appointed Vodafone’s board member earlier this year. In March 2023, Dowidar revealed a desire for the company to invest in a global scale.

The business also agreed to acquire a controlling stake in PPF Group’s telecoms assets in Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia and Slovakia.

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Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO at e& opens up on the company’s business strategy shift and its evolution as a tech company.

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Justin Springham is joined by Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO, at MWC24 to discuss the GSMA Open Gateway initiative and how it is shaping the future of connectivity.

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The order by the UK Cabinet Office requires the formation of a National Security Committee alongside imposing various requirements on Vodafone’s board composition. The operator must also inform authorities of any alteration to its current arrangement with e&.

Explaining the move, the government said the moves are considered “necessary and proportionate to mitigate the risk to national security”, highlighting Vodafone UK’s role in supporting the state’s domestic and international initiatives, contributing to its cybersecurity and as a supplier to government departments.

The government noted the relationship enables e& to materially “influence the policy” of Vodafone. 

Operator e& owns a 14.6 per cent stake in Vodafone, having gradually built the shareholding in the year from May 2022.

A year after its initial investment, e& and Vodafone announced a strategic relationship they claimed would bring them “closer together in certain aspects of their businesses”.     

As part of the deal, the CEO of e& was given a spot on Vodafone’s board subject to regulatory approvals, with the UAE business also given the opportunity to nominate an independent non-executive director if its stake rises above 20 per cent.   

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A memorandum of understanding was signed during the Gitex Global event held in Dubai and “reflects the critical role” of technology education in sustaining growth in the UAE economy, explained the duo.

Details on the agreement were sparse, but they outlined plans to work together to develop computer science education, providing access to latest technological advancements including integrating AI tools and mechanisms to enhance education.

In addition, the pair will seek to work with other key stakeholders within the UAE, providing a further boost to the sector by creating additional opportunities.

Dena Almansoori, chief human resources officer at e& said the collaboration goes beyond embedding technology into education, and was actually about “nurturing a digital-first mindset”.

This week, e& also partnered with Ericsson to bolster its mobile money app.

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The agreement will see e& integrate its product, e& money, with Ericsson Wallet Platform, a software the pair claims will enable seamless digital transactions and improve the security aspects of mobile payments. It will also allow e& money to expand its services and reach more businesses and individuals in its home market. 

e& money currently features services that enable local and international transfers, prepaid cards, gifting and payment processing, and the companies touted integration of Ericsson’s technology will make these offerings available via “a variety of digital channels”. 

Ericsson claims its platform supports more than 400 registered mobile wallets, processing more than 2.8 billion transactions “worth more than $40 billion every month through CSPs and financial institutions globally”.

On its website, the vendor noted the platform is adopted by clients in 24 countries, with MTN and Telenor among them. 

CEO at e& money Melike Kara Tanrikulu said the partnership underscores its “commitment to enhancing digital experiences and equipping individuals and businesses in the UAE with reliable financial solutions”. 

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Speaking on day two, Murshed addressed a recent deal it struck with PPF Group to take a controlling stake in telecoms units in four European countries for an initial €2.2 billion.

With it currently awaiting regulatory approval, the executive told the keynote audience the proposed deal would serve “as our platform to expand internationally in Europe” and across other important markets.

Recently, e& has also been building its stake in Vodafone Group, as part of moves to increase interests outside of its home market.

Internally, the company has been pursuing a three-pillar strategy focused on development in 5G, cloud and AI to continue its technology transformation charge.

On the first, Murshed explained e& saw 5G as an aggregation of all technologies, and it has been recognised as the platform that will link all applications together.

Cloud is equally important for e&, with Murshed describing it – whether hybrid, open or public – “as the ultimate application for us”.

Finally, it has pushed an aggressive AI strategy, both for its employees and to improve customer service.

In total, it has identified around 190 use cases for the technology and uses 6,000 data points which are powering more than 3 billion transactions on its network.

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In a statement, e& explained the pilot used the 26Ghz band and delivered high speeds. The test forms part of a push to address demand for mobile networks capable of delivering large amounts of data reliably and securely. 

The operator claimed its test demonstrated the network’s ability to uplink heavy video and real-time data transfer with faster speed and lower latency, supporting “industries operating over vast areas”. 

Alongside citing opportunities for FWA, the operator highlighted the potential of private networks using the frequencies across various industry verticals, citing healthcare, manufacturing and public safety. 

SVP for access network development at etisalat by e& Marwan Bin Shakar indicated its work in this area reflects a “commitment to unleashing the full potential of 5G”, particularly at a time when the demand for data “has increased exponentially.” 

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In a joint statement, e&’s business arm noted it will use its expertise in areas including cybersecurity, IoT, cloud computing and AI to help enterprises digitalise their operations.

The partners claimed the deal is part of the UAE’s wider strategy to solidify Abu Dhabi’s position as the region’s “most competitive industrial hub”, and a joint working group will be formed to support the initiative.

Under the agreement, the pair will explore ways to provide digital tools to aid sustainable and efficient operations for industrial enterprises, alongside publishing joint studies and hosting workshops around sustainable manufacturing.

Alberto Araque, CEO of IoT and AI at e& enterprise said its partnership with the government “underscores our dedication to empowering businesses to flourish in the digital era while fostering environmentally responsible methods.”

The UAE is preparing to host the United Nations COP28 Climate Change conference later this year.

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Under the agreement, e& will buy a stake of 50 per cent plus one share in PPF Telecom Group, though the transaction excludes the latter’s assets in the Czech Republic, which are being moved into a separate company.

The deal was announced alongside e&’s Q2 results and is subject to regulatory approval. It comes after the pair revealed discussions were underway on a potential partnership last month.

Under the terms of the agreement, e& could end up paying an additional €350 million, or be able to claw back up to €75 million depending on PPF Telecom meeting certain financial targets within three years of closing.

PPF Telecom CEO Balesh Sharma is set to remain in place following the closure of the deal.

In a joint statement, the companies noted the “transaction sets the foundation for a partnership between PPF and e& that will seek to build a major telecommunications business in central and eastern Europe”.

They expect to gain synergies in procurement, wholesale and roaming agreements, among others, alongside launching new services.

PPF bought its mobile assets in Hungary, Bulgaria and Serbia from Telenor in 2018 together with a business in Montenegro it subsequently sold. The O2 Slovakia business included in the deal has been part of the company since 2014.

The stake sale to e& is expected to close before the end of Q1 2024.

e& financials
In its Q2 earnings statement, e& chair Jassem Mohamed Alzaabi described the PPF agreement as a “strategic expansion into the European market” highlighting it as the “next step in our transformation into a global technology group”.

Recently, e& has also been building its stake in Vodafone Group as part of this ambition.

Net profit of AED2.5 billion ($681 million) was up 3.8 per cent year-on-year, credited to higher income from associates, a boost in net finance income, lower charges and a decline in expenses.

Revenue was AED13.6 billion, up 4.8 per cent.

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In a filing with the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, e& noted the pair had earmarked central and southeastern Europe, excluding Czech Republic, as potential target markets.

e& stated it will “keep the market updated” on the progress of the talks, which it explained are at an early stage.

PPF Group specialises in telecommunications, financial services, media and e-commerce with presence in 25 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and North America.

It is headquartered in Czech Republic with a diverse investment portfolio which includes Hungary operator Yettel and O2’s Czech operations, which it bought from Telefonica in 2013.

As part of its global push, e& has built a 12 per cent stake in Vodafone Group, excluding treasury shares, an investment intended to give it exposure to a global leader along with helping it to forge potential commercial partnerships.

Earlier this year, it also bought a 50 per cent stake in Uber’s Middle Eastern subsidiary for $400 million as part of its commitment to boost digital offerings and push beyond telecoms.

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It stated it has deployed up-to-date radio equipment which is more energy-efficient and employing AI to optimise power consumption based on traffic loads.

The update comes as the country prepares to host the United Nations COP28 climate change conference later this year, with 2023 declared the year of sustainability in the UAE.

One of e&’s deployments of the equipment reduced energy consumption by 52 per cent compared with its previous kit. This is equivalent to 7.6 tonnes of CO2 emissions per site per year for high-level sites.

e& also said it invested heavily in converting indoor sites to outdoor free cooling systems, reducing the Global Warming Potential of refrigerants by recovering, recycling and reusing gases.

It also now uses on-site renewable energy through solar panels and hybrid power systems to replace diesel generators at off-grid sites.

In March, e& struck a partnership with IBM to deploy software focused on sustainability, adding to a separate partnership with Ericsson.

Ahead of COP28, e& International CTO Sabri Ali Albreiki said it is “accelerating the pace of decarbonisation of its network infrastructure business to enable a low carbon society, reduce environmental impact and promote sustainability”.

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The news outlet reported the aid forms part of a nationwide humanitarian campaign by the UAE government to assist those impacted by a massive earthquake which struck parts of Turkey and Syria early last month.

It reported e& provided more than 4,000 radio and digital units to restore mobile networks and services.

Chairman at e& Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi reportedly stated the company stands “in solidarity” with the countries as it looks to contribute to “repairing and supporting the telecommunications infrastructure in those areas”.

The move marks an extension of e&’s disaster relief initiatives: last month, it offered a week of unlimited phone calls from the UAE to the affected areas.

Other big industry players including Vodafone Group, Orange, Deutsche Telekom and satellite player Inmarsat have also moved to provide connectivity and other services following the earthquake.

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