UAE telecom e&, formerly known as Etisalat, has expanded its partnership with Microsoft that will see e&’s 5G network combine with Microsoft’s cloud, AI, edge and data services, a statement from e& said.
The agreement will focus on e& harnessing the versatility of the Microsoft Cloud and partner ecosystem to create new solutions, accelerate value creation for businesses of all sizes, as well as engage customers and empower e&’s employees.
“E& is combining one of the world’s fastest 5G networks with Microsoft’s cloud, AI, edge and data services, addressing a regional market hungry for digital transformation. We are confident that this collaboration will continue to support the ever-growing demands of this market and our digital journey of transformation and innovation. This also supports our ambition to become a world-class technology provider that supports regional innovators as they disrupt, make a difference and build the future,” said Hatem Dowidar, CEO, e&.
The collaboration between the organisations will be structured around three strategic pillars:
- Focus on business-to-business engagement across large enterprises, governments, small and medium-sized businesses, by helping them in their digital transformation journey.
- Re-invention of the consumer experience, with a focus on empowering consumers, broadening, and enriching the e& services portfolio.
- Setting the foundations to power e&’s transformation journey by modernising networks and platforms, building ecosystems and transforming the e& culture to attract top talent.
In 2019, Microsoft launched its UAE data centres in collaboration with e&. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, Etisalat UAE, the telecoms pillar of e& in the UAE collaborated with Microsoft to enable Microsoft Teams availability across the UAE. Soon after, e& launched its first customer service powered by Microsoft Azure, enabling SMBs to grow and scale their operations. Last year, it partnered with Microsoft for 5G and Edge to lay the foundations for next-generation use cases.
E& was founded in Abu Dhabi more than four decades ago and now operates in 16 countries across the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
