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The transformative power of 5G will be showcased at the upcoming Gitex Technology Week and Gitex Future Stars exhibition, as key industry players highlight the role that the technology will come to play in shaping the smart cities of the future.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, officials from the Dubai World Trade Centre revealed that the 39th edition of Gitex Technology Week will present the region's biggest-ever 5G showcase. Running from October 6-10, 2019, the event will be held under the theme 'Synergising the Mind and Technology Economy'. More than 100,000 tech experts are expected to be present at the exhibition, which is divided into sectors including 5G, Artificial Intelligence, Future Mobility, Gitex Lifestyle Tech, and Smart Cities. Saudi Arabia is the official country partner for Gitex 2019, and will be represented by its smart logistics platform, Fasah.
Dr Ahmed Bin Ali, group senior vice president at Etisalat, reiterated Etisalat's keenness to bring the latest technologies and solutions to businesses across the region, saying: "Our objective has been to empower businesses and societies. Etisalat's participation at Gitex this year will be marked not by showcasing devices, but solutions. Specifically, we will be showcasing digital solutions powered by 5G technology that can help businesses achieve an edge in the industry. 5G is the major focus this year with a showcase of digital transformation and innovation expected across industry verticals like transportation, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, aviation, and oil and gas"
The Middle East and Africa region is set to be at the centre of the 5G revolution, with 30 million 5G mobile subscriptions expected in the region by 2024, and all six GCC countries expected to launch 5G mobile services in the next two years, with the UAE aiming to deploy 5G by 2020. Gitex's 5G Countdown conference agenda will explore how 5G will revolutionise Industry 4.0, smart cities and autonomous vehicles, as well as getting to the bottom of 5G security concerns.
Similarly, Huawei will be showcasing its 5G technology portfolio at the event.
"Within the Middle East and internationally, 5G is gaining strong momentum in its commercial adoption. We have seen this first-hand by working on more than fifty 5G commercial contracts and shipping over 200,000 5G base stations worldwide. Meanwhile, we have seen industries starting to embrace 5G, with it exploding into prominence by improving efficiency in many industries. By adding AI capabilities to the next generation of ICT products, AI also becomes more readily available for different fields of scientific research and business innovation. This combination will deliver more intelligence across every touchpoint of the digital economy," said Hani Sobih ELKukhun, vice president, Strategy, Huawei Middle East.
"5G promises a lot, but we have to look into how we can properly tap into its full potential," added Wojciech Bajda, VP, Middle East and Africa, and head of GCC at Ericsson. "The exciting turning point that we have been eagerly waiting for is finally being realised. Today, 5G technology is a commercial reality, with several markets already switching on 5G during the course of 2019. From discussion to action, efforts to roll out 5G in the fastest, smoothest, and most efficient way are gradually paying off.
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