Exclusive Interviews

Etisalat Group today is present in 16 countries with 148 million customers spread across Middle East, Africa and Asia. In all the markets, Etisalat has set a benchmark by leading the way in the network, technology and services. This was mainly due to its efforts in aligning with its vision of ‘Driving the Digital Future to Empower Societies’. At a group level, the company also adopted the ‘CODERS’ strategy to focus on its priorities, direction and ambition. Telecom Review sat down with Hatem Bamatraf, chief technology officer, Etisalat Group, to explain the strategy and how new technologies are aligned with this vision.

Times are changing and Ogloba is helping telecom operators and large retail operators to create and maintain relationships with their customers by offering digital platforms for prepaid top-ups, gifting and shopping cards as well as loyalty schemes. Ogloba is a global player with a strong presence in the Middle East. Telecom Review sat down with Arnaud de Harenne, General Manager of Ogloba Middle East to learn more about how they are reinventing digital payment methods in the Middle East.

It has been two years since Virgin Mobile brought the first fully digital mobile service to the country. Virgin Mobile offers a simple and transparent technology through its innovative app-based service. It prides itself on delivering an unmatched consumer experience and continues to find ways to improve its service. Telecom Review had the opportunity to sit down with Karim Benkirane, managing director, Virgin Mobile UAE, to discuss how Virgin Mobile keeps up with customer demands.

F(x)tec is a London based smartphone manufacturer which initiated in 2018. Its mission is to bring back technologies and features that we love into modern smartphones. F(x)tec released the Pro 1, designed to allow the user to choose between a virtual keyboard or a physical keyboard, among many other features. Telecom Review had the chance of meeting Adrian Li Mow Ching, CEO and co-founder of F(x)tec, at GITEX technology week in Dubai.

The Telecommunications Standardization Bureau (TSB) of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) works on developing international telecom standards. It currently includes 11 study groups which are dedicated to developing standards which range from fiber optics, all the way to the application layer. Some of their study groups are technical in nature, while others are more regulatory in nature such as managing telephone numbers internationally, managing the secure use of IoT-powered devices on 5G networks, managing economic and policy issues, tariffs, international roaming and internet connectivity charges.

Brighter is a health-tech company from Sweden, founded in 2007, with a vision to improve quality of life and reduce the complications of chronic diseases. Brighter developed ‘Actiste’, the world’s first unified diabetes care device with a mobile-connected service for monitoring and treating insulin-dependent diabetes. It is a pocket-sized device that combines the necessary functions for daily diabetes care and shares the data with healthcare providers. At GITEX technology week, Ericsson showcased Actiste as an example of how IoT solutions are being used in healthcare. Telecom Review secured an interview with Petra Kaur, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer of Brighter, to find out more about how this will contribute to science and help to reduce the burden on healthcare systems around the world.

5G and cybersecurity were on top of the agenda of the CTOs who met at the annual CTOs/ITU meeting in the framework of ITU Telecom World which was held in Budapest. Telecom Review had the privilege of participating in the meeting where we spoke with Uwe Baeder, director, international relations ITU/UN, Rohde & Schwarz, to know more about the role that Rohde & Schwarz is playing in terms of 5G security and standardization.

GITEX Technology Week 2019 provided the perfect opportunity to meet leading companies in the fields of technology and telecommunications and get to know more about their latest solutions and products. Eaton was one of the companies we met to discuss the company’s main areas of focus. Ashraf Yehia, managing director, Eaton Middle East, told Telecom Review that customers are at the heart of everything they do at Eaton and they always strive to meet their expectations.

In the era of digital transformation, Moscow appears to be among the leading cities that are rapidly evolving into smart nations. In a discussion with Telecom Review, the head of the Department of Information Technologies of Moscow, Eduard Lysenko, delved into the city’s digitalization journey which encompassed an update on Moscow’s 5G journey and the progress achieved thus far in terms of launching of e-services.

CommScope is a global leader in providing wired and wireless solutions and innovations to the telecommunications industry. CommScope and the recently acquired ARRIS and Ruckus Networks are shaping the communications networks of the future. The combined company will provide greater technology and solutions with broader access to new and growing markets. During GITEX Technology Week, Telecom Review managed to secure an exclusive interview with Femi Oshiga, vice president of service providers in the Middle East & Africa.