As the number of mobile phones passes the one billion mark around the world, the Deputy CEO of Emirates Telecommunications Corporation- Etisalat-Obaid Bin Mes’har, accompanied by the General Manager of the Al Ain Region, Nasser bin Aboud al Falasi, are leading a delegation to attend the most prestigious global mobile telephone event on the 2005 industry calendar.
Composed of a Conference and Exhibition, the 3GSM World Congress is attracting top-level attendees from 173 countries around the globe to Cannes, France from February 14-17, 2005. More than 120 CEOs alone of mobile telephone companies are scheduled to debate and drive the future of the world’s mobile telephone industry.
“As Etisalat has become a leading regional player in the Middle Eastern and African markets, we intend to take a leading role in driving the development of new markets on an international basis,” Mr. Mes’har said.
“Etisalat has always been at the forefront of technical innovation. We wish to ensure that the new technologies and standards adopted around the world are consistent with the rapid growth and value of the mobile and wireless industries,” he continued. “With a cooperative and directed approach the industry can take advantage of the major business expansion opportunities that are about to occur as the world becomes even more connected.”
Almost 700 second and third generation mobile network operator and service providers will be showcasing some of the newest technologies in mobile networks, mobile handsets, and supporting services to an estimated number of 30,000 delegates and visitors to the event.
One of Etisalat’s successful subsidiaries, Emirates Data Clearing House (EDCH), the growing provider of data clearing services to 40 international mobile networks will be represented as one of 600 exhibitors in the Trade Show. “This is a major networking event for the industry,” said Ahmed Al Meyhas, General Manager, EDCH.
“We are a small company from an international perspective, but the services and solutions we have developed during the last decade make us a leader in the roaming sector of the mobile industry. We fully expect that this showcase of our services will lead to valuable new contracts within the rapidly-expanding number of mobile networks around the world,” Al Meyhas said.
The first SIM and Smart Card personalization centre in the MENA region, Ebtikar Card Systems will also participate in the 3GSM Conferences and Exhibition. “This participation will be a great opportunity to strengthen our market position and to serve clients in the International market. During the event, Ebtikar will present its product portfolio and present to prospective clients the newest technology and products that are important to them. We will also be sharing knowledge on future technology”, said Saeed Al Bairaq, Acting Manager, Ebtikar.
Congress attendees will be exposed to a number of key themes during the four days of high caliber content. These include—the Business Importance of Technical Innovations, Defining Future Growth Opportunities, Driving Value for Wireless Services and Expanding the Boundaries of GSM. The technology challenges of the next 12 months, the convergence of the internet and the wireless world and how the next billion mobile customers will be connected can be expected to be hot topics among Congress delegates and visitors.
