In an exclusive interview with Telecom Review during the 18th edition of the Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit, Obaid Rahman, Head of International Wholesale, du, broke down the company’s approach to 5G adoption from a global wholesale perspective.
How is the wholesale telecom industry in the Middle East evolving in light of increasing 5G and cloud adoption?
We were among the first to adopt 5G in the region, and the impact has been transformative. On the consumer side, we've seen significant growth in services like content streaming and gaming over the past six-to-seven years. For enterprises, mission-critical IoT use cases, including connected cars and smart cities, are rapidly emerging, while SMEs are increasingly leveraging 5G.
Many enterprises have either already embraced digital transformation or are in the process of migrating to the cloud. These trends signal a growing demand for high-bandwidth connectivity. Beyond bandwidth, the adoption of 5G and cloud technologies has introduced new requirements like low latency, enhanced security, and compliance with global standards.
In the wholesale telecom sector, end-to-end connectivity alone is no longer sufficient. The industry is shifting towards offering diverse, resilient, and redundant connectivity solutions, especially for regions beyond the GCC. This development reflects the need for adaptable and reliable infrastructure to meet the demands of a digitally transformed market.
How is du seizing the opportunities arising from the region's position as a global connectivity hub?
At du, we view ourselves not just as participants but as facilitators in the region's digital transformation journey. When it comes to connectivity for cloud and content, we approach the opportunity from three key perspectives:
- Organic Growth: We’ve addressed the needs of hyperscalers, OTTs, content providers, and gaming companies looking to serve regional and local customers. Through initiatives like DataMENA, we’ve created one of the most digitally dense ecosystems, connecting carriers, wholesalers, and hyperscalers directly to end customers.
- Strategic Geography: Leveraging our strategic location, we’ve established ourselves as a vital transit hub, connecting the east and west. This unique position enables us to facilitate global connectivity seamlessly.
- Promising Future: The region is positioning itself as a digital AI powerhouse, backed by significant sovereign investments in digital infrastructure. This shift presents enormous opportunities for du and other players to expand connectivity, enhance cloud and compute capabilities, and support the region’s aspirations for AI leadership.
How is du integrating AI to inject innovative, differentiative solutions into the wholesale telecom sector?
AI is at the core of du’s strategic framework, with over 50 use cases spanning technology, customer care, commercial operations, HR, and beyond. Within the wholesale sector, we’re deploying AI to drive innovation across various areas:
- Roaming Insights: Using AI-driven analytics, we collect consumer travel data to tailor our roaming value propositions.
- Anti-Fraud Solutions: AI plays a critical role in combating fraud, particularly within wholesale roaming and voice services.
- Capacity Management: Our inventory and capacity management processes are now fully automated, with AI enhancing demand forecasting and optimization.
- Contract Management: With a portfolio of over 600 partners, AI-powered solutions streamline contract renewals and management, ensuring efficiency and accuracy.
AI’s integration is enabling du to not only improve operational efficiency but also deliver tailored, innovative solutions that meet evolving market demands.
