Etisalat invests Dhs6b to enhance network

Etisalat, the leading mobile telecommunications operator in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, has successfully completed together with Alcatel-Lucent, a technology trial with the groundbreaking light Radio portfolio highlighting how it can meet fast-growing customer demand for high-bandwidth mobile broadband services. Etisalat lately had invested Dhs6 billion to enhance the network infrastructure and the development of fiber optic networks and access the central system of ‘L T E’. This move has resulted in the launch of the first investment and real experience in fourth-generation network system in the UAE. Etisalat created thousand main stations, and extends ‘L T E’ services through the major cities to cover 80 per cent of the population. The network and large-scale mobile services is the first of its kind in the UAE have been achieved through a range of products of the light Radio from Alcatel - Lucent, which operates a network of long-term development of the fourth generation. Alcatel-Lucent showcased the capabilities of its new light Radio Metro Radio Outdoor (MRO) product at Etisalat’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi, making the lightning-fast data connection over Etisalat’s commercial 4G LTE network, also powered by Alcatel-Lucent. This new offering is part of Alcatel-Lucent’s market-leading light Radio Small Cells product family, and based on the light Radio cube.  It extends a service provider’s LTE network to provide hot-spot coverage in densely populated areas such as shopping malls, airports, and sports stadiums. Obaid Bokisha senior vice president- networks planning and management-Etisalat group and Saeed Al Zarouni senior vice president-mobile networks Etisalat UAE have participated in a round table organised by the Alcatel - Lucent during the Mobile World Congress 2012 and was attended by a large group of operators to include Orange and Telefonica, to discuss the growing demand for high-speed broadband and the demand for high-speed connections to mobile broadband services such as video conferencing and on-demand TV which  has been driven by the mass take-up of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. In October 2011 Alcatel-Lucent and Etisalat signed an agreement to jointly develop the most sustainable and efficient way to meet this demand using the groundbreaking light Radio portfolio. This successful trial of the latest technology marks a major milestone in turning that promise into a reality. Tests conducted prior to the successful trial showed that service providers deploying the MRO in their LTE network could see improvements in capacity and performance that would allow them to realise cost savings of up to 40 per cent while delivering high-quality, lightning-fast 4G LTE data services to subscribers. Stephen Carter- President, Europe, Middle East & Africa Alcatel-Lucent’s said: “We are happy to have the opportunity to work with Etisalat to leverage light Radio to address their business needs.  The work completed as part of this successful project has yielded valuable data about how service providers such as Etisalat can very easily deploy Alcatel-Lucent’s metrocells to transform the mobile broadband experience for their customers, while at the same time reducing their power consumption, costs and equipment footprint.” Etisalat has received a prestigious award from Forbes Middle East for being the most powerful company in the UAE. The award was received by Ali Al Ahmed, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Etisalat UAE on behalf of Mohammad Omran, Etisalat chairman. The Forbes Middle East awards reward the efforts, achievements and positive contributions of UAE companies in the intellectual development of the UAE’s economy and society. The award ceremony took place during the launch of the first issue of Forbes Middle East in English, and took place at the Atlantis Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Commenting on the occasion, Etisalat’s chairman Mohammad Omran said:  “It’s a great honour to receive this prestigious award from Forbes Middle East. I consider it a tribute to the efforts of our 53,000 employees in 17 countries and I am pleased to convey our shared appreciation for the recognition, and also to applaud their efforts. “Etisalat’s successful business strategy is based on several key elements which include strong leadership, innovation, excellence in customer service and operating in a responsible manner,” he added. Strong commitment to excellence and innovation has seen Etisalat become one of the world’s fastest-growing telecom groups, rapidly expanding across Asia and Africa. Its UAE operations, strategically located at the crossroads of East and West, enables Etisalat to be the major hub in the Middle East for Internet, voice, broadcast, roaming and corporate data services. Etisalat has been recognised as ‘Best Operator’ 10 times since 2006 and ‘Best Wholesale Provider’ four times in the last three years. Servicing over 167 million customers in 17 countries Etisalat continues to reach out to new customers and markets.