DUBAI 29 March 2019: UAE telecom provider Etisalat says its 5G network is fully ready in the UAE and consumers will be able to get hands-on experience when new 5G-enabled smartphones are rolled out in the market.
Khalifa Alshamsi, Group Chief Corporate Strategy and Governance Officer, Etisalat, said: “We are expecting new 5G-enabled devices by June. That’s when consumers will get to experience the real 5G. We have already fully deployed the network.”
Commenting on the role of technology in the media sector, he said, the US elections are the best example of how presidents have used available technology to reach out to the public. “Roosevelt used radio for his messaging, communicating with people directly. Kennedy used the TV. Obama was the first to use the social media platform,” he said, adding that the leaders in the Arab World are at the forefront of using social media, starting with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who has the largest number of followers and uses the medium to communicate directly with residents, said Wam.
“The evolution of mobile technology has also played a role in the way news is delivered. Mobile started off with voice services and then came messaging. The third generation used the internet and with the 4G came speed. Last year, we saw advancements in 5G and we started testing it in May 2018,” said Alshamsi.
