Cairo – Mubasher: Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to contribute $320 billion to the economic growth of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by 2030, the Middle East News Agency (MENA) cited e& CEO, Hatem Dowidar.
The UAE is forecast to be the country benefitting the most from this promising technology, securing $120 billion.
The CEO remarks came on the sidelines of GITEX GLOBAL, taking place from 10 to 14 October 2022 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The world’s largest tech show features every major technology player, trend, and vertical, and it covers sectors, including smart cities, cybersecurity, data economy, mobility, healthcare, and telecoms.
Dowidar referred to a recent report by the FTTH Council Europe where the UAE has ranked number one for the highest Fiber to the Home (FTTH) penetration among all its counterparts, surpassing Singapore, China, South Korea, and Hong Kong.
He further said that technology helps change the future of societies for the better, emphasising that shifting to the metaverse is a vital step as it represents a starting point to explore the new limits of the digital world.
Moreover, he announced that e&, formerly known as Etisalat Group, has chosen a strategic location for the metaverse platform, hosted virtually on Mars, specifically in Arcadia Planitia. Scientific research shows that Arcadia Planitia might be the most suitable location for future life on the red planet.
The CEO further stressed keenness to diversify investments and empower companies to shift to cloud solutions instead of traditional telecom and information technology solutions, in cooperation with regional and global partners such as Microsoft.
Recently, Dowidar told us that capital spending in e& amounted to AED 3.50 billion during the first half (H1) of 2022, adding that the group provides GITEX 2022 visitors with a key metaverse platform in collaboration with SK Telecom, the largest telecom operator in South Korea.
This platform aims to enhance user experiences through virtual spaces and explore possible opportunities for interacting in the metaverse world.
