How e& is Riding the Telecommunications Transformation Wave

It’s no secret that the telecommunications industry is in the midst of an unprecedented period of innovation and change.

This evolutionary phase – commonly referred to under the massive umbrella of digital transformation – spells significant disruption for some operators. For forward-thinking companies like e&, however, this is a time with opportunities to transform and make a major difference in the lives of the consumer. The global technology group’s transformation strategy aligns with the broader industry trends that will bring innovation with technologies related to AI, IoT, 5G, and cloud among others.

“e& is aligning with the prevailing transformation trends in the telecom industry by embracing 5G, digitalisation, automation, IoT, cloud services, and cybersecurity,” Obaid Bokisha, Group Chief Operating Officer of e& said recently at an industry event. “These strategic initiatives will position us as a leader in the evolving telecommunications landscape and enable us to meet the changing needs of our customers effectively.”

Bokisha sees e&’s digital transformation as symbiotic with that of the broader industry – and of the world at large. That might sound ambitious, but with more than 170 countries having defined national digital visions to date, telcos like e& have a significant, multi-faceted role to play in their region’s growing digital economies.

For e&, that means ensuring the company is investing in next-generation advances in 5G, cloud, IoT, cybersecurity, and more – all to ensure its infrastructure and services align tightly with the dynamic needs of the developing digital economy, But it also means becoming a transformation enabler for a vast number of other businesses looking to embrace the digital era.

“We focus on facilitating digital transformation by offering cutting-edge technologies, solutions, and services to support businesses in their digitalisation efforts,” said Bokisha.

This mission goes beyond business and technology opportunities, Bokisha adds. Other key facets of e&’s transformation strategy include being an active partner and collaborator with industry players, government agencies, and other stakeholders to help grow the digital ecosystem. Finally, Bokisha stresses the importance of “digital inclusivity” – that is, ensuring that the next generation of communications and connectivity technologies are available to everyone, not just select individuals and businesses. This he believes is when companies like e& will truly make a transformative impact in the markets and communities they serve.

“Through these efforts, we envision making a significant contribution to the continued development and growth of the digital landscape on a global scale,” Bokisha said.

IoT, AI among the hottest technology trends
Within the vast landscape of telecommunications transformation and the global digital economy, Bokisha points to IoT and AI as two of the hottest areas of technological investment, for both operators and their business customers.
“IoT has the potential to transform industries and enable new business models,” Bokisha said, pointing to industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, agriculture, energy/utilities, and retail as early movers in the space with IoT having the potential to transform other sectors as well over time, too.”

Similarly, AI is already having transformative impacts on a wide range of businesses – but Bokisha notes that the category is still in its emerging phase and will likely drive new waves of transformation for the foreseeable future. That’s true both internally and externally for e& including customers.
“AI and next-generation technologies have the potential to promote e&’s transformation by enabling data-driven decision-making, optimising operations, enhancing customer experiences, and leveraging innovative services,” explained Bokisha.

Collaboration & Partnership Are Key
The vision for the global digital economy – and the critical role that technology companies like e& will play in it – require deep partnerships and collaboration across the industry and other stakeholders, Bokisha noted. Such partnerships are invaluable to maximising capital expenditures, developing and rolling out new technologies and services, and sharing expertise and resources, among other benefits.

Bokisha pointed to e&’s two-decade partnership with Huawei as an example of the kind of cross-industry collaboration needed to deliver truly transformative results.

“It is imperative to engage across the region with other telecom players offering opportunities for efficient capital expenditure deployment without compromising revenue growth,” Bokisha explained. “By sharing infrastructure, collaborating on network expansion, investing in innovation collectively, and advocating for favorable regulations, telecom companies can optimise their investments, unlock new revenue streams, and drive the digital economy forward.”