Technology elevates travel with connectivity enabling a seamless and immersive digital experience in the new norm facilitating virtual travel to bridge the gap between both physical and digital worlds, said Eng. Hatem Dowidar, CEO, Etisalat Group.
Eng. Dowidar was the keynote speaker at the ‘Expo Talks Travel & Connectivity Week’, a pre-Expo programme that explored connectivity in key sectors, including mobility, transport and logistics, governance, education and travel while championing digital connectivity as a human right for all.
He also stressed on the importance of virtual technologies and its implementation in physical events like the recently held GITEX Technology week in Dubai, where virtual visitors could witness and experience the entire show, presentations and showcases without travelling to the event.
“This was all made possible due to the advanced infrastructure in the country leading in every aspect of the network from the highest fiber penetration to the home globally to being the first operator to launch 3G, 4G and 5G networks in the region. The country is also home to the fastest mobile network in the world a result of years of building one of the most advanced network in the region and globally.”
The other senior leaders that headlined panel discussions at the event were Dr Ahmed Bin Ali, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Etisalat Group and Francisco Salcedo, Senior Vice President, Etisalat Digital.
Dr Bin Ali participated in a session titled ‘Leave no one behind’ that focused on bridging the digital divide for learning with global and national level participants from UAE Prime Minister’s Office, Dubai Cares, UNICEF and UNESCO. The session focused on the role of advanced connectivity for education during the pandemic. Through the discussion, they all explored how to make the global education system stronger and more resilient to future disruptions through digital transformation.
Salcedo joined the ‘Thrive together series’, a session that had opening remarks from H.E. Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia and participants from organisations such as Smart Africa, UAE TRA, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expo 2020. The session focused on the need to foster a more resilient and robust global economy, and enable economic growth and partnerships. The pandemic has resulted in the shutdown of our physical world, bringing to the forefront the importance of the contactless provision of services and goods, requiring not only technology, but a digital friendly business and regulatory environment and a government prepared to deliver services to its citizens.
The ‘Expo Talks Travel & Connectivity Week’ are part of the pre-events planned providing a glimpse of how Expo will bring to life the theme of travel and connectivity across the six months that it will open to the world, the talks convened experts from around the world, alongside Expo 2020’s international participants and official partners.
Etisalat is the official telecom and digital services partner for Expo 2020 aiming to provide an experience of a lifetime with the fastest, smartest and most connected sites on earth. Through Etisalat’s partnership, Expo 2020 Dubai became the first major 5G commercial customer in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. This will be the first world expo to witness the 5G revolution.
