e& was based almost 50 years in the past and have become one of many largest telecom suppliers on the planet. Since 2022, the worldwide know-how group has been on a metamorphosis journey that reinforces its telecom’s legacy, whereas pioneering new digital realms.
At present, it’s poised to proceed cementing its place as a know-how chief. Regardless of financial headwinds, e&’s promising H124 outcomes—with a consolidated income enhance of 6% to AED 28.3 billion—underscore the effectiveness of its relentless pursuit of technological innovation to ship tangible worth to clients and shareholders.
Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO of e&, attributes e&’s success to its folks.
“The progress we made within the first half of 2024, pushed by acquisitions, partnerships, and the growth of our digital providers portfolio, was made attainable by a unified group appearing as one throughout 33 nations,” says Dowidar. “We now have taken daring steps and continued to digitally empower folks. Our outcomes encourage us to proceed striving for excellence, surpassing targets, and setting new business requirements.”
Increasing past telecom
Other than making important strides inside the telecom business—from surpassing a obtain velocity of 13 Gbps at GITEX World 2023 to report breaking information switch speeds by reaching the world’s quickest fee of 30.5 Gbps on its stay 5G community in 2024—e& understands the necessity to keep abreast of the speedy know-how cycle. That is significantly so for AI.
“Whereas our legacy in telecom serves as a stable basis, staying forward requires us to pioneer new digital realms. This permits us to maximise worth in our core enterprise whereas increasing into new areas equivalent to cloud computing, cybersecurity, and IoT options, tailor-made to each companies and shoppers,” explains Dowidar.
Amongst its key milestones is the launch of the world’s first AI-powered autonomous telecom retailer EASE, which transforms buyer interactions, in addition to the three way partnership with business friends Deutsche Telekom, Singtel, SK Telecom, and SoftBank Group to develop a telecom-specific giant language mannequin.
However the work has simply begun. e& is considerably investing in AI and machine studying, with plans to combine these applied sciences throughout all layers of its future networks. From units and entry factors to the core community, the corporate strives to create an infrastructure that’s clever and adaptive, but able to delivering cutting-edge providers and functions. This integration will enable e& to supply extra personalised and environment friendly providers, in the end enhancing consumer experiences and operational efficiencies.
On the similar time, e& is increasing its geographic footprint. Dowidar highlights the group’s strategic acquisition of cloud supplier GlassHouse, which serves 9 of the highest 10 banks in Turkey. This bolsters e&’s capabilities in cloud computing and information heart providers whereas complementing its current choices to ship end-to-end digital transformation options for enterprises. Transferring ahead, e& will combine GlassHouse’s experience into its broader portfolio for extra complete, tailor-made options.
On the patron finish, Dowidar shares how e& is quickly increasing its fintech capabilities. “Proper now, our precedence is to empower each buyer—companies and people—with the required instruments and alternatives to entry the digital economic system,” stresses Dowidar.
e& life’s fintech arm, e& cash, has established itself as a significant participant within the UAE’s monetary panorama. With over 1.1 million subscribers, it’s the nation’s most-used fintech app based mostly on month-to-month lively customers. Highlighting its regional dominance, e& cash has seen a staggering six-fold enhance in worldwide cash switch quantity, alongside increasing its remittance providers to over 200 nations.
Careem—generally known as the every little thing app serving 74 cities—has elevated funds and remittances at an unprecedented tempo. This yr, Careem has seen digital remittances rise by 283% in contrast with the earlier quarter.
In Pakistan, the place 79% of the inhabitants lacks entry to monetary providers, e&’s subsidiary, U Financial institution, is working to vary this. Prior to now 5 years, it has grown its mortgage portfolio by 5 instances, serving greater than 400,000 mortgage shoppers by greater than 300 branches in largely rural areas.
Deepening digitization and automation
As e& appears to be like forward, unrolling its 2030 technique and transitioning from topline stability to sustained development, it’s dedicated to additional increasing its management in rising applied sciences. The corporate is already laying the groundwork for 6G networks for report speeds and connectivity choices because it seeks to discover the potential of quantum computing for revolutionizing information processing and safety.
e& is showcasing the transformative potential of AI throughout varied use circumstances. By leveraging AI-driven options, the corporate has streamlined monetary processes, enhanced buyer expertise, and optimized vitality administration. An AI-powered credit score scoring system has improved mortgage approval velocity and accuracy, selling monetary inclusion. Moreover, an AI-powered KYC resolution has expedited onboarding and strengthened safety, constructing belief with clients. In its community websites, AI-driven good grid options have lowered vitality consumption, minimized environmental impression, and enabled environment friendly off-grid energy era.
Within the shorter time period, nevertheless, e& will proceed to deepen its providers with digitization and automation, by reworking its operations by AI, and strengthening accountable AI practices. This steady funding in bringing next-generation applied sciences and networks, significantly 5G-Superior, into its core infrastructure will introduce extra superior capabilities to assist new use circumstances. This implies quicker and extra dependable connectivity for patrons to thrive in at the moment’s more and more digital world.
“We imagine know-how and connectivity are on the epicenter of a hyper-connected world, creating a greater life for all and bringing cohesion and belief inside society. We intention to play a major position on this digital revolution by spearheading digital transformation and connectivity—to drive an inclusive future for all,” concludes Dowidar.
