Telecoms & IT

In tandem with the increasing diversification of Abu Dhabi’s economy, the information and communications technology (ICT) industry has come to take on a more prominent role, featuring a much broader range of businesses than was the case even five years ago. Telecoms companies in the UAE are continuing to invest in the country’s physical infrastructure, which is among the most advanced in the world, while the public continues to show a growing appetite for data services, which are driving the telecoms market, as margins on voice services fall. One key feature of the IT sector is the government’s efforts to encourage greater use of IT via e-government and e-learning. ICT is now a full and integral part of the national curriculum in the UAE, and the government is moving to introduce greater use of computers in schools in a bid to enhance overall learning as well as improving e-literacy. This chapter includes an interview with Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, CEO, Etisalat Group.