Page 16 - SAMENA Trends - January 2022

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Etisalat Ranked the World’s Strongest Telecom Brand

optic infrastructure enhances the
customer experiences across all business
operations. Etisalat raised the benchmark
as the world’s fastest network by delivering
the best 5G experience at Expo 2020 Dubai
as its official telecommunication and
digital services partner, surpassing the
expectations of millions of visitors. Etisalat
has built a dedicated network for Expo
2020, which is the first 5G commercial
site in MENA with more than 8,000 Wi-Fi
access points, 8,500 mobile access points,
and 700 km of fiber-optic cable. As the UAE
celebrates its 50th anniversary, Etisalat
has leveraged its 46 years of telecoms
experience and its investment in telecom
Etisalat has been ranked as the world’s List of Brand Guardians globally. This infrastructure to enable the progress of the
strongest telecom brand and is the first in recognizes the ground-breaking initiatives people and business alike, in addition to
the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region that he launched since he joined Etisalat in supporting vital sectors such as healthcare
to achieve this milestone recognition September 2015, which played a key role and education, especially following
by Brand Finance, the world’s leading in propelling Etisalat’s business growth. the pandemic. As the telecom sector
brand valuation authority. With a telecom Assuming the role of Group CEO in 2020, he continues to evolve at breakneck speed,
portfolio of well over US$ 12.5 billion, stewarded the company’s growth through Dowidar is focused on strengthening
Etisalat not only retained its AAA brand the fast-changing telecom and technology Etisalat’s strategic role in empowering the
rating but also its position in MEA as the landscape following the COVID-19 communities it serves in global markets.
strongest brand across all categories pandemic. His astute brand stewardship “Our proven ability to deliver seamless
and the most valuable brand portfolio. served as the foundation for enhancing connectivity is our differentiating strength.
These accolades underline the UAE’s Etisalat’s brand reputation as well as We are fully equipped to unlock the
leadership position globally in its cutting- employee engagement. David Haigh, potential of digital technologies to drive
edge telecom infrastructure and strategic Chairman and CEO, Brand Finance, said: digital transformation at all levels – from
advances in digital transformation. Eng. “Guided by the vision to ‘drive the digital government to business to individuals. Our
Hatem Dowidar, CEO, Etisalat Group, said: future to empower societies’, Etisalat is recognition as the world’s leading telecom
“To be recognized as the world’s strongest the world’s strongest telecoms brand of brand further fuels our ambition to expand
telecom brand and as the most valuable 2022, as well as retaining its status as the to new geographies and build innovative
telecom brand portfolio in MEA underline strongest brand in the Middle East and partnerships, underpinning Etisalat as a
the success of our strategic initiatives to Africa for the second consecutive year. brand that makes a positive difference.”
build a robust telecom infrastructure that Etisalat’s brand focuses on togetherness Etisalat’s digital arm has already made
creates added value for our customers and plays its part by providing a first- great strides in its digital B2B services,
wherever we serve. With our relentless focus class telecoms infrastructure across particularly in cybersecurity, the Internet
on being customer-centric, we continue its footprint. Exceptional rollout of 5G of Things (IoT), and cloud connectivity.
to push our horizons by investing in next technology has also meant that the Etisalat Help Ag, Etisalat Enterprise Digital’s
generation technology that enhance our Group’s portfolio of brands is the most cybersecurity arm, protects customers
service offering and help shape the digital valuable amongst telecoms organizations against identity theft and serve as an
future.” He added: “In this digital-first era, in the Middle East.” Attributing the success effective digital transformation vehicle.
our focus is to be agile to meet the evolving to his team at Etisalat, Dowidar added: Brand Finance is the world’s leading
requirements of our customers and deliver “Our significant brand value growth is the independent branded business valuation
relevant and flexible services. Since our result of the contributions and dedication and strategy authority. Founded in 1996
inception in 1976, we have been led by a of our employees across all the markets and headquartered in the City of London, it
vision to create a world-class telecom where we operate. Alongside our partners, aims to ‘bridge the gap between marketing
infrastructure that is central to economic they are the cornerstones of our efforts to and finance.’ Brand Finance evaluates
progress. We are inspired by the support be a digital-first company that is future- over 5,000 brands across all sectors and
and guidance of the UAE leadership to stay ready, while upholding our vision to geographies every year. The 500 most
innovative and future-focused so that we empower societies, and turn challenges valuable brands are included in the Brand
can continue to empower communities into opportunities.” With the UAE leading Finance Global 500 report.
and enrich lives.” Brand Finance also the world in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH)
named Eng. Hatem Dowidar to the Elite penetration rate, Etisalat’s robust fiber-
16 JANUARY 2022