ICT

Abu Dhabi’s smart government initiative is a driving force behind growth in infrastructure and technology and, not insignificantly, on public take-up of smart technology for engaging with governance and other civic activities. Underscoring the advancements in Abu Dhabi’s ICT evolution, the country is on course to become the world’s first with nationwide 5G coverage, the roll-out of which should take place ahead of the Expo 2020 in Dubai. Meanwhile, revenues for the telecoms sector at the national level reached $8.9bn in 2014, a 12% rise over the $7.9bn in 2013. From the total, mobile services accounted for $6.9bn. Competition between the two state-backed operators, Etisalat and du, is strong and frequently leads to rigorous marketing campaigns, infrastructure development, bundle offerings and technological innovation. This chapter contains interviews with Rashed Al Mansoori, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC); and Saeed Al Ghafli, Director-General, Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA).