Issue 13 November, 2012
Stealing the show Etisalat dazzles at GITEX 2012 with cloud, security and video offerings
Management speak Executive Message
Delving deeper into the enterprise
Abdulla Hashim, Senior Vice President, ICT, Etisalat
October is the biggest month on the ICT calendar in the Middle East, and it was no different for us at Etisalat as we maintained a large presence throughout the 32nd GITEX Technology Week. The event kicked off with a bang when His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and His Highness Maktoum bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated Etisalat’s mammoth stand. During their visit to the stand, Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Maktoum were shown the many advanced services that Etisalat offers
Publisher Dominic De Sousa COO Nadeem Hood Group Editor Jeevan Thankappan jeevan@cpidubai.com +971 4 4409109 Editor Ben Rossi benr@cpidubai.com +971 4 4409114
individuals and businesses within the UAE community including eLife and 4G LTE technology. Their Highnesses were also briefed about Etisalat’s future technologies, including Flous and NFC, and new applications for the banking and finance, healthcare, education, retail, construction, oil and energy and government sectors. Things only got better as the week progressed and we saw a tremendous response to our solutions and technologies on show, many of which are reflected in this issue of ICT Insight. The opening day saw the launch of our Managed Web Security service, which forms the flagship of our extensive managed security services portfolio. You’ll find a full analysis of the launch and product on page 7, including an exclusive insight from Jay Chaudhry, CEO and Founder of Zscaler, the company which powers the technology. It wouldn’t have been an ICT event without plenty mentions of cloud and Etisalat stole the show in that respect with the launch of our infrastructure-as-a-service
Circulation Database and Circulation Manager Rajeesh M rajeesh@cpidubai.com +971 4 4409147 Production and Design Production Manager James P Tharian james@cpidubai.com +971 4 4409146
“Cloud and security may be dominating much of the discussion in ICT circles lately, but collaboration is as important as ever and that showed with the great response we saw to our new TelePresence Exchange service.”
DIGITAL SERVICES Digital Services Manager Tristan Troy P Maagma
Head Office PO Box 13700 Dubai, UAE
Web Developers Erik Briones Jefferson de Joya
Tel: +971 4 440 9100 Fax: +971 4 447 2409
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ICT Insight - Etisalat Business Solutions Update
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2
(IaaS). You’ve already read about our software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings in the previous issue of ICT Insight, but GITEX inaugurated our entry into the IaaS market. Read more about it on page 3, along with an insight into the Middle East’s largest tier III data centre campus, which hosts the service, on page 6. Cloud and security may be dominating much of the discussion in ICT circles lately, but collaboration is as important as ever and that showed with the great response we saw to our new TelePresence Exchange service. GITEX provided the platform for the first showcase of the state-of-the-art video conferencing solution, which is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2013. We give
you more insight into this terrific technology on page 10. Also popular at GITEX were our ‘Smart’ solutions and M2M services. The Smart solutions are delivered under a managed service operation model which allows for smooth implementation, operation and maintenance, whilst Etisalat’s M2M technologies can bring great value by making it possible for machines to communicate in a common and dynamic infrastructure. These are just some of the things we were doing during GITEX, but turn to page 12 to read about all the other new announcements we made in what turned out to be a hugely action-packed week at Dubai World Trade Centre. We hope GITEX 2012 was as successful for you as it was for us and we look forward to working with you as we delve even further into the enterprise arena.
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© Copyright 2011 CPI All rights reserved While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.
IaaS
Data in the cloud
2012 has been a big year for Etisalat in the enterprise space as it jumped into the cloud market with software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings, as well as the launch of its infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), which is hosted in the largest tier III data centre campus in the Middle East.
C
Next on Etisalat’s list is IaaS,
loud computing delivers
computers, with the flexibility
around the world, including the
IT and computing
to use as much or as little of
Middle East, where Etisalat’s
which allows the customer
as a service over a
the service as they want.
SaaS offerings have this year
to not only rent and access
shown customers the real
servers, storage and network
benefits of the cloud.
resources in a data centre but
communications network. The service provider installs
The enterprise concept has taken off on a large scale
and manages the hardware and software in its data centre, allowing customers to connect over the Internet, or private network, to use the applications that they need. They can then manage the applications and servers
“We already have an existing market - virtually 100% of the market is already our customer in one way or another - and we own the data centres. We’ve got about eight data centres with more in the making, so we already have the baseline infrastructure needed for cloud services.”
on the cloud from their own
ICT Insight - Etisalat Business Solutions Update
3
IaaS
to also deploy and manage
Huge response
the operating systems and
Whilst the service was
applications themselves.
available before GITEX and
The Etisalat cloud IaaS is
Etisalat already had customers,
built on a state-of-the-art
the technology event provided
infrastructure that includes
the platform for the formal
networks, servers, storage,
launch, where the service
applications and services
provider saw a “huge” response.
hosted at the Etisalat Jebel Ali
“We saw a lot of people
Data Centre (JADC), which is
interested and a very high
tier III certified by the Uptime
quality footfall compared
Institute. Servers are available
to previous GITEX events,”
with multiple operating systems
Bhandari says.
and application licenses and
He adds that Etisalat
can cater to a range of loads
spreading its horizons to offer
varying from a small test server
ICT services to enterprises is a
to large application servers.
“natural extension”.
Etisalat also offers managed
“The three main ICT services
services for IT infrastructure
are data centre/hosting/
as add-on features on its
cloud infrastructure services,
cloud. Customers can choose
managed services and pure play
to subscribe to complete end-
cloud services i.e. platform-
to-end management of their
as-a-service (PaaS) and SaaS.
hosted infrastructure. Add-on
From a services point of view,
features include load balancing,
we also offer professional
backups, storage expansion and
services. We already have the
network expansion, all of which
data centre/hosting services,
help to ensure that customers’
managed services, and now
infrastructure can grow
cloud is in the making as
seamlessly as their computing
the next big thing. Managed
requirements grow.
services make sense for us
“During GITEX we launched
because when we are providing
our cloud infrastructure-as-a-
the data lines, we should be
service to sell virtual servers
able to manage them too,”
and managed services over the
Bhandari says.
cloud,” says Ramesh Krishna
“If you have hosting
Bhandari, Manager, Cloud
services, application services
Computing, Etisalat. “We can
and managed services,
manage the infrastructure, we
then you need to have
Ramesh Krishna Bhandari, Manager, Cloud Computing, Etisalat
can manage the applications and we can also manage the databases. Presently we are providing VMWare and Hyper-V based virtualisation on our infrastructure with Linux Server and Windows 2008 Server
“It is quite a logical extension for us. We have been very strong in the consumer space and we have been strong in the enterprise space as well. We’ve been growing in the B2B space quite a lot and will continue to grow.”
operating systems.”
4
ICT Insight - Etisalat Business Solutions Update
IaaS
professional services in place.
Bhandari says that Etisalat
is called RODE (Ramco On-
Our team also handles the
wants and is ready to grow in
Demand ERP) and is a result of
professional services in terms
a “big way” in the enterprise
over 20 years of research in
of providing the planning
space.
the ERP segment.
and implementation part of it
“It is quite a logical extension
@etisalat.ae
It has been designed and
including integrations, and we
for us. We have been very
developed to cater to the
also do project management,”
strong in the consumer space
growing ERP needs in a wide
he adds.
and we have been strong in the
spectrum of verticals. By being
@GITEX
Thanks a lots Etisalat i very enjoyed in your standard :)
According to Bhandari, the
enterprise space as well. We’ve
run on the Internet, companies
most significant differentiator
been growing in the B2B space
do not have to invest in new
for Etisalat in the Middle East
quite a lot and will continue
hardware, training or additional
cloud vendor market is the fact
to grow. We are also looking
IT staff.
that it owns the network.
at B2B2C. We’ve got some
According to Bhandari, it is
products which are built for
simple to deploy and run, and
market - virtually 100% of the
consumers but are not directly
can go live in just seven days.
market is already our customer
sold to them - we provide such
It is also completely modular,
in one way or another - and we
services to businesses and they
meaning users can choose
own the data centres. We’ve
in turn pass these services onto
only the functions they need
got about eight data centres
their customers.”
and pay for what they use on
“We already have an existing
a subscription basis. They can
with more in the making, so
7:37 - 6/10/12
Irfan Ullah Khan
http://www.facebook.com/permalink. php?story_fbid=470557919631739& id=107009842653217
21:44 - 19/10/12
suniltjohn @etisalat
Etisalat d best @ EtisalatUAE
we already have the baseline
Looking ahead
also size up and size down as
infrastructure needed for cloud
He adds that, whilst 2012 has
per their requirements, and
services. It becomes easier for
already been a big year for
all upgrades and updates are
us to provide customers with
Etisalat in the cloud market,
automatically taken care of by
end-to-end SLAs with cloud
in 2013 we will be introducing
Etisalat.
services coming into play. 99%
even more offerings, with three
The online storage B2B2C
of the UAE is covered with
products lined up for release in
solutions fall under the name
@etisalat
our links. Then we also have
the first quarter.
DigitalSafe, which is a mobile and Web-based secure cloud
good Project Best in the world facebook time line
LTE as another flavour, which
“We are going to have ERP
23:47 - 13/10/12
supports the exponential
on the cloud and also online
storage application that
growth of cloud and managed
storage, which has two flavours
allows users to securely store
services.
– one for the B2B2C and the
and share their personal
other is pure B2B. ERP on the
information, Bhandari says.
“So since we already have
https://twitter.com/suniltjohn/ statuses/259364342842142720
Ake Yakuza
5:57 - 28/09/12
Ebrahim JS
the right underlying mix for
cloud is a conventional ERP
Users can create ‘Notes’
a project, we will add more
taken 100% onto the cloud.
to save their PIN numbers,
@etisalat
value than any other cloud
The online storage solutions
passwords, financial accounts,
service provider in this market.
are mainly to do with storing
medical records and travel
it rockz..
Even if we don’t own the last
personal or critical information,
details, as well as confidential
mile, we can at least give
like an end-user’s bank account
files and documents. All
customers SLAs in terms of
details, and helping to keep
data is safely stored in high
accessibility of the servers,
different passwords in an
encryption format in Etisalat
application and the underlying
encrypted form, that’s the
data centres as per UAE
infrastructure in terms of
B2B2C, while the B2B online
and Swiss standards, while
disaster recovery, latency,
Storage solution cater to huge
the B2B solution is called
reporting, manageability, and
unstructured data storage
SecurusVault. Swiss security
user agnostics. We are best fit
requirements,” he says.
and confidentiality is 100%
to be a cloud service provider.”
The ERP on the cloud product
13:02 - 15/10/12
KhalafAlHabtoor @etisalat
كلنا فخور بنجاح @ شركة إتصاالت اإلمارات# EtisalatUAE
https://twitter.com/KhalafAlHabtoor/ statuses/257768326158237696
assured, he adds.
ICT Insight - Etisalat Business Solutions Update
5
IaaS
INSIGHT: The Middle East’s largest tier III data centre campus
E
tisalat cloud IaaS is
and is fully managed 24 hours a
in the Gulf region are the highest
management and carbon
hosted in the largest tier
day and 365 days a year using
in the world, making sustainability
footprint reduction and its
III data centre campus
advanced intelligent systems.
and reduction of carbon footprint
data centre is designed
a priority for many organisations.
around these principles. It
in the Middle East. Certified
State-of-the-art design
by the Uptime Institute, it
and management techniques,
High oil costs and inefficient
uses cold aisle containment
provides 99.982% availability.
including data centre
operations are starting to pose
systems (CACS) to minimise
It is operated by Pacific Controls
infrastructure management
financial risks to traditional,
energy consumption and its
and is the only data centre in
(DCIM) techniques and
overloaded data centres.
management systems provide
the Gulf region that can deliver
computational fluid dynamics
on both high availability and
(CFD), ensure that the data centre
legislation to reduce energy
disaster recovery requirements,
delivers optimum performance
usage, which require verified
Organisations can reduce
while adhering to the touch
without wasting energy.
information about data centre
the cost of ownership of their
Governments are introducing
all the data needed to meet regulatory requirements.
performance. Data centres use
IT systems by hosting their
placed with access to a full
anything from 40 to 80 times
mission critical infrastructure in
a secure facility for hosting
range of high-speed data
the energy of traditional office
the data centre and transforms
mission critical applications
connections to any regional or
space. Industry estimates predict
capital expenditure (CAPEX) into
with a full range of colocation,
global destination in a redundant
that global data centre energy
predictable monthly charges,
managed services, disaster
ring architecture. It follows best
consumption is set to double
while also achieving higher
recovery and cloud IaaS. The
practice for physical, operational
every five years
reliability and a lower carbon
infrastructure is designed to
and data security.
environmental standards. The data centre provides
have no single point of failure
6
The data centre is conveniently
The carbon emissions per head
ICT Insight - Etisalat Business Solutions Update
Pacific Controls is the world leader in environmental
footprint than would otherwise be the case.
Managed Web Security
securing the
Cloud The biggest barrier in the enterprise embrace of cloud computing is the security concerns related to giving away the control of data. Etisalat sought to solve that with the commercial launch of its Managed Web Security service at GITEX.
T
he commercial launch of Etisalat’s
based on Web communication and this was
new Managed Web Security service
pretty evident by the ‘quality’ response we
was one of the key talking points at
received at its commercial launch at Gitex this year.
this year’s GITEX Technology Week, which
“Managed Web Security is a cloud
further strengthened Etisalat’s position as the leading managed security services
based security service that is truly need
provider in the region.
of the hour for businesses of this cyber age. The entire Web browsing traffic of
The Managed Web Security service, the flagship of Etisalat’s extensive managed
an organisation is filtered through the
security services portfolio, aims at assisting
cleaning house within Etisalat for viruses,
businesses to safeguard their organisational
spam, malware, botnets, etc. Furthermore,
Web infrastructure and resources from
Syed Asad Haider, Senior Manager, Managed Services, Etisalat
it gives the customer a plethora of
malicious Web traffic, viruses, spywares and other damaging data capture. “The service focuses on Enterprises and SMB’s key paint points in heightening and tightening their web frontiers,” says Syed Asad Haider, Senior Manager, Managed Services-ICT, Etisalat. “More than two thirds
“Companies are keeping their CAPEX low and are moving on OPEX-based services models. We have enhanced further our security portfolio - be it on the cloud or at the customers’ premises.”
of organisational Internet communication is
ICT Insight - Etisalat Business Solutions Update
7
Managed Web Security
opportunities to administer and put in
in the UAE. This has re-enforced our
place the Web-control mechanisms.”
confidence and brand trust in our customers by not only addressing their key paint
Leveraging the paradigm shift
points in a timely manner but also allowing
The Managed Web Security service aims
in-country (UAE) web traffic termination.” Etisalat ICT business arm takes its
to utilise cloud-based security-as-a service (SaaS) to deliver a high performance multi-
inspiration from the ever-changing market
tenant, fully logged service which helps
dynamics by developing the “right” products
organisations to secure Web traffic from
and by doing them “rightly”. Asad Haider
any location in the world including Internet
says Etisalat is offering very competitive
gateways, branch offices, data centres,
rates for the Managed Web Security
home workers and mobile road warriors.
service, with several value-centric packages available, ranging from the ‘Basic Suite’ to
Abdulla Hashim, Senior Vice President, ICT, Etisalat, says the new Managed Web
the ‘Premium Suite’, depending on the level
Security service would result in true
of security required. “It is a systematic approach to managing
business continuity and the avoidance of compromising situations for organisations.
Abdulla Hashim, Senior Vice President, ICT, Etisalat
an organisation’s Web security needs. By choosing Etisalat as their preferred
“Leveraging the paradigm shift in the ICT environment, Etisalat continues to
secure its Web infrastructure, including
security service provider, customers can be
lead from the front and further broaden
URL filtering, advanced threat protection,
confident of implementing a managed Web
its market space and footprint into the
inline anti-virus and anti-spyware, Web
security service that will not only extend
managed security domain. By keeping
2.0 control, bandwidth management, Web
their safe reach but also enable them to
abreast of market trends, Etisalat has
access control and data loss prevention.
take advantage of cost savings on their
developed a cutting-edge service that
“Zscaler built a powerful technology to
capital value,” Hashim says.
strategically minimises associated revenue
offer cloud-based services. We teamed up
risks and allows businesses to prioritise
with telcos in the Middle East region to
Enhancing the security portfolio
Web traffic based on organisational and
bring this technology to the market so it can
The launch of the Managed Web Security
bandwidth requirement,” Hashim says.
be offered by local service providers,” says
service adds to Etisalat’s significant
Jay Chaudhry, Founder and CEO, Zscaler.
investment in developing flexible and
Powered by ZServices (Zscaler Middle East Cloud), Etisalat’s Managed Web
Asad Haider adds: “Etisalat has the
secure services, including the Managed
Security service delivers businesses
distinguished advantage of being the first
Unified Threat Management and Managed
with the tools to effectively manage and
cloud based web security service provider
SSL-VPN, and comprehensive support for Etisalat customers including a state-of-theart customer network operations centre
From the GITEX show floor: A word on Managed Voice by Etisalat
(CNOC), a collaborative IT infrastructure and superior knowledge capital manned by certified IT professionals. “The growth of managed services in general and security services in particular
leased model. Our customers are
are gaining traction at an exponential pace.
infrastructure of our business customers,
assured with lower TCO, robust cash
Organisations are choosing to operate at
we have this distinguished advantage
flows with business continuity and
lower CAPEX to enhance their operating
of offering IPPBX, voice gateways, IP
productivity enhancements. It also
cash flows. We truly understand and
phones with proactive management and
allows our customers to align their IT
appreciate the market pulse and hence have
monitoring, maintenance, installation
strategy with their business objectives,”
enhanced further our security portfolio - be
and support all on very competitive
Asad Haider says.
it on the cloud or on the premise of the
“As for Managing the Voice
customer,” Asad Haider says.
8
ICT Insight - Etisalat Business Solutions Update
Managed Web Security
The technology behind the product The enterprise move to the cloud is inevitable and it is vital that organisations utilise the right technology to do it securely, writes Jay Chaudhry, CEO and Founder, Zscaler.
E
verything is moving to the cloud.
East, which may be behind in technology
Applications are moving to the cloud,
adoption, are actually leapfrogging the
data is moving to the cloud and users
traditional Western countries out there. New technology adoption in enterprise is
are becoming more mobile with laptops and security devices, so the security has to be set
always driven by business drivers. Nobody
between the cloud and the user.
adopts technology for the sake of cool
Years ago, before we had electricity, if you
technology. Cloud is a business driver. I still
needed light you had to buy power generators
recall when I was doing wireless security, a
for your phone. Then the paradigm shifted. The
lot of people were saying it’s not very safe,
power companies came along and built power
but it was part of life because it was solving
plants, so they could provide electricity to
a problem. So people should think of cloud as
entire cities. So to do cloud security right, you
a part of life. Companies that are focused on offering
can’t really take traditional appliances, rack and
cloud services are making sure that things are
stack them in a data centre, and say I’m a cloud company. You have to build something that’s
Jay Chaudhry, CEO and Founder, Zscaler
getting done right. The data security concern is at two levels – the country level and the
totally different. It needs to be multi-tenant, scalable, you need to be able to store logs
second big trend. Sometimes people think the
company level. At company level, data sitting in
locally and other stuff has to be done.
cloud means something strange out there, but
data centres is actually no safer than sitting on
I took the time and effort to invest to do
we are all actually already using a lot of cloud-
the Amazon cloud.
cloud security from a clean slate and build it
based stuff. Gmail is a cloud-based application
right. We have more than nine million users
that was driven by consumers. Google search is
Amazon breach gets higher publicity than the
from 160 countries that are already using
also a cloud service and everybody uses that.
many other companies that have breaches.
this technology today, so it’s a proven and
Companies started adopting email security
It’s true that because cloud is new, any
But cloud is unstoppable and it’s because all
established service. Some of the biggest
in the cloud. Before you receive your emails,
new technology is being built around cloud
companies in the world are using this
somebody out there cleans it. Web security is
applications. The cost savings and benefits are
technology. The National Health Service (NHS)
essentially the same thing – you really need
so far-reaching. In the coming years you won’t
in the UK uses it with 1.6 million users alone,
some level of security force between cloud
see any appliances of security services sitting
so I think it’s a pretty well proven service.
applications and the user. It’s a natural thing.
on-premise and everybody will be depending
I’ve seen that emerging regions like the Middle
on the cloud.
Leapfrogging technology Typically, the U.S. takes the lead in technology, but we saw in the mobile world that parts of Europe and Japan took the lead. Some of these technologies are driven by business needs and some are driven more by consumers. There are three big trends that are happening in the world today. With mobility, it has happened very fast. They are wonderful tools for business because we can have email and applications
“I took the time and effort to invest to do cloud security from a clean slate and build it right. We have more than nine million users from 160 countries that are already using this technology today, so it’s a proven and established service. Some of the biggest companies in the world are using this technology.”
anytime and anywhere. The cloud is the
ICT Insight - Etisalat Business Solutions Update
9
Cover TelePresence story Exchange
Video star
Taking much of the limelight at GITEX Technology Week was the showcase of Etisalat’s new TelePresence Exchange service. Raied Ariqat, Manager, ICT Product House, Etisalat, provided a live insight into the technology.
V
ideo conferencing has become a big trend in IT this year as enterprises
seek to increase collaboration and reduce the travel costs of employees senior executives. Etisalat is now ready to release its TelePresence Exchange service to the market in Q1 2013. GITEX provided a worthy platform to showcase the product before the release. TelePresence Exchange uses Cisco technology to support new and various options to provide state-of-the-art video communication services that enable participants from remote destinations to communicate and collaborate in real-time and real life-size . Its main selling factor is the ability for users to enjoy all the benefits of face-to-face meetings, save on travel time and cost and improve employees’ efficiency. “Etisalat is introducing a state-of-the-art video telecommunications service, which enables customers to communicate as businessto-business by utilising their telepresence and video conferencing endpoints,” Ariqat says. The service will enable customers to communicate
“There is a high level of demand in the UAE market as customers’ needs go beyond audio services and prefer collaboration through video communications. We are now in the era of video communications.”
regardless of the type of
10
ICT Insight - Etisalat Business Solutions Update
TelePresence Exchange
@etisalat.ae 21:44 - 19/10/12
suniltjohn @etisalat
Etisalat d best @ EtisalatUAE https://twitter.com/suniltjohn/ statuses/259364342842142720
14:19 - 29/09/12
bulletbeatmusic @GITEX
I was there and I just left you people are number 1 foreal thanks etisalat #gitex http://twitter.com/bulletbeatmusic/statuses/251989633007747073
their equipment and network,
“There is a high level of
the IDA. The customer-centric
whether it is MPLS, public
demand in the UAE market
hospitality solution helps
Internet or ISDN.
as customers’ needs go
streamline the hotel’s service
beyond audio services and
delivery mechanism and provide
agreements with international
prefer collaboration through
them with higher operational
@etisalat
service providers enable
video communications. We
and cost efficiencies.
customers to communicate
are now in the era of video
Etisalat can also provide
beyond the borders of their
communications.” he says.
turnkey eHospitality solutions
We’re all proud of @ EtisalatUAE & its success. #UAE
“Etisalat’s interconnectivity
LAN or WAN, regionally and internationally,” Ariqat adds.
to hotels in the UAE in eHospitality
partnership with major
Customers have the option
Also on Ariqat’s radar at GITEX
international partners and
was the showcase of Etisalat’s
specialised technology leaders
equipment or lease Cisco
eHospitality services. “eHospitality is a bundled
KhalafAlHabtoor
https://twitter.com/KhalafAlHabtoor/ statuses/257765958121308160
to either purchase their own equipment from Etisalat .
12:52 - 15/10/12
Customers are allocated to either a silver, gold or platinum
18:27 - 14/10/12
solution that consists of three
package depending on their
Technology Week was
services – PRI Voice, IDA and
bandwidth selection. They’re
the perfect opportunity to
TV services to the rooms,”
then offered voice channels,
@etisalat
showcase this new technology
Ariqat says. “These are crucial
up to 1GB of Internet dedicated
SERVICE IS GOOD
and Etisalat saw great interest
services to any hotel and
access (IDA) and a selection
from both the government
Etisalat provides the customer
of over 300 TV channels
segment and the private sector
with a generous discount
depending on their unique
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f bid=476338392387025&set=a.477495 692271295.106416.10700984265321 7&type=3&theater
throughout the week.
subject to the bandwidth of
business requirements.
According to Ariqat, GITEX
Mdsharifur Rahman
ICT Insight - Etisalat Business Solutions Update
11
News
Etisalat expands its Payment Machines services, collaborates with Zakat fund “The new Zakat payment service is only
Etisalat and Zakat Fund have announced their collaboration to facilitate Zakat’s
an extension of our collaboration with
payment service through Etisalat’s advanced
Zakat Fund. Prior to this service, Etisalat
Payment Machines throughout the country.
has launched a mobile Zakat calculation
The agreement was signed at GITEX in
service based on the Islamic sharia rules. It
the presence of Jamal al Nuaimi, Etisalat’s
also allows mobile users to pay their Zakat
General Manager for Abu Dhabi Region and
by simply dialling *162# and following the
Abdullah bin Aqeeda Al Muhairi, Secretary-
instructions.” Al Muhairi added: “I am very happy with
General of Zakat Fund.
the new service from Etisalat that will
The service will allow people who wish to pay their Zakat or charity, to easily do so through Etisalat’s Payment Machines starting
transfer environment for customers. “As a leading provider of telecom services,
facilitate the payment of Zakat duty, which is considered as one of the Islamic cornerstones
with amounts of Dh50, with increments of
Etisalat has undertaken this initiative as
enriching the brotherhood and humanitarian
Dh10, up to a maximum of Dh20,000. Upon
part of its responsibility to extend support
connection in the community. I truly admire
payment, the client will get a detailed receipt
to individuals and various communities of
Etisalat’s efforts in harnessing technology
with full details of the transaction. Under the
the UAE. It reflects Etisalat’s commitment to
for the needs of the community and its
agreement, both Etisalat and the Zakat Fund
partake in humanitarian activities such as
religious pillars. The Zakat Fund continuously
will enhance their systems to ensure the
partnering with Zakat Fund to provide new,
endeavours to collaborate with active
smooth launch and operation of the service,
digitised and reliable payment channels for
corporations such as Etisalat to provide
as well as provide a secure and safe data
their clients,” said Al Nuaimi.
advanced solutions to help people pay.”
Etisalat and Jasper Wireless demonstrate M2M solutions Etisalat demonstrated a wide
M2M and consumer electronics
range of M2M solutions at GITEX
devices across its mobile
with Jasper Wireless, the leading
network properties.
connected devices platform for
Macario Namie, Vice President,
of embedded wireless devices. Jasper Wireless’ ability extends
Marketing, Jasper Wireless,
to a variety of M2M connections
added: “Jasper is proud to be
and supports Etisalat’s work
machine-to-machine (M2M) and
President, ICT, Etisalat, said Jasper
supporting Etisalat in educating
in vertical markets such as
consumer electronics.
Wireless is an ideal partner to
and informing customers in UAE
construction and infrastructure,
help Etisalat’s development in
and the larger region about how
retail, and oil and gas.
this emerging market.
Etisalat M2M Control Center
Etisalat and Jasper Wireless demonstrated a diverse range of M2M services examples
12
Abdulla Hashim, Senior Vice
Hashim said.
“Through our partnership with
Jasper Wireless has developed
empowers enterprises with the
the applications and services that
across multiple industry
Jasper Wireless, we aim to open
intelligence and automation to
support highly flexible business
verticals touching on the launch
up new markets and create new
manage their M2M deployments
models as well as the automation
of the Etisalat M2M Control
opportunities for our customers.
in scale.”
of operational processes,
Center powered by Jasper
This platform will enable us
Etisalat is using the Jasper
Wireless. Etisalat announced
to profitably accelerate the
Wireless platform to accelerate
provisioning, instant activation,
during Mobile World Congress
deployment of connected
market entry of new categories
real-time diagnostic tools and
2012 that it would use Jasper
devices at scale and maintain
of connected devices on
detailed billing and usage reports,
Wireless’ connected devices
the flexibility to react to the
its network and profitably
ensuring a superior out-of-box
platform to wirelessly connect
fast developing M2M market,”
connect and manage a range
end-user experience.
ICT Insight - Etisalat Business Solutions Update
including custom device
News
Etisalat signs partnership with GAPCorp FNI Wattar added: “We are very pleased with this
Etisalat has signed a partnership agreement with GAPCorp FNI, a company that specialises in
new partnership with Etisalat, which will utilise
providing GPS services for vehicles, in the hope
its well-developed network for mobile devices
of providing mobile telecommunications solutions
alongside our advanced GPS solutions.”
for Global Positioning Systems (GPS) services.
The Global Positioning System utilises a
The agreement will allow Etisalat to offer
highly developed data and communications
a wide range of positioning services such as
platform attached to a satellite global
hourly vehicle positioning, monitoring, follow
positioning receiver and a wireless modem
up with emergency assistance, a geographical
in the front of the vehicle. The devices work to ensure two-way 24-hour communication
barrier service, automatic warning in case of theft, emergency cases warning facility, low
between the vehicle and the communication
and Director Majed Wattar. “Etisalat will continually position its
battery warnings and other services. Several key managers from both parties
centre at GAPCorp. In the first phase of the agreement, GAPCorp
achievements in the information and
attended the signing ceremony: from Etisalat,
communication technology sector in a way that
will sell around 100,000 GPS units, followed by
Abdullah Al Ahmed, Senior Vice President
serves the business sector of the UAE. Etisalat’s
a further 250,000, to reach a total of 350,000
for Business Solutions, Abeer Norman, Vice
agreement with a leading company like GAPCorp
units by the end of 2016. Moreover, in the
President for Business Solutions, and Hamad
will help the business sector and particularly
project’s second phase, GAPCorp plans to extend
Al Katbi, Manager Business Solutions; and from
banks to complete their dealings and provide an
the application of the project to other regional
GAPCorp, Nasser Watar, Chief Executive Officer
easier safer flow of services,” said Al Ahmed.
and international countries.
Etisalat provides e-hosting solutions for Sharjah Islamic Bank’s data centre Etisalat has teamed up with
ICT are witnessing fast-paced
methods. Sharjah Islamic Bank
Sharjah Islamic Bank to provide
advancements, businesses are
will surely continuously look
electronic hosting solutions for
forced to stay ahead of these
for cooperation chances with
the bank’s secondary data centre
developments to maintain their
Etisalat in the future. This is in
at Etisalat’s Jebel Ali Data Centre
high-tech service standards. In
the aim of improving the Bank’s
(JADC).
order to support several sectors,
different client services through
The agreement, signed during
Etisalat constantly works on
adopting Etisalat’s technological
GITEX, will enable Sharjah Islamic
collaborating with companies
innovations.” Etisalat’s JADC is considered a
Bank to guard its secondary data
Saad, the bank’s Deputy Chief
in the UAE, whether public or
centre from any possible disaster
Executive Officer.
private, to provide them with the
primary business unit containing
required technical support and
nine data centres designed
to-day activities and prevent
partnering with the Sharjah Islamic
expertise,” said Abdullah Ibrahim
according to high standards
the bank from providing routine
Bank. This agreement clearly
Al Ahmed.
(tier III). Highly qualified teams
services to customers.
demonstrates the Bank’s objective
that can disrupt the bank’s day-
“We are excited about
Saad added: “Sharjah Islamic
supervise the services provided in
of protecting its data centre to
Bank and Etisalat enjoy a strong
these data centres on a 24-hour
attended by Abdullah Ibrahim Al
ensure uninterrupted and smooth
relationship as the bank provides
basis. These data centres are
Ahmed, Senior Vice President for
business dealings with the public,
Etisalat’s clients with many
connected to a high speed fibre
Business Solutions; Sharjah Islamic
mainly customers. At a time
services including bill payment
optics network which is extended
Bank was represented by Ahmed
when telecommunications and
through its various payment
throughout the whole of the UAE.
The signing ceremony was
ICT Insight - Etisalat Business Solutions Update
13
News
Al Hilal Bank signs up for Etisalat data centre Etisalat’s new state-of-the-art data centre in
UAE including the new data centre facility in
Jebel Ali welcomed its first customer in the
Jebel Ali was a key reason for the decision to
form of leading UAE bank Al Hilal Bank, which
sign up with Etisalat. “Not only is Etisalat the leading
signing an agreement to host its disaster
telecommunications operator in the UAE,
recovery functions at the facility. The signing with Al Hilal Bank confirms
but they have shown their commitment
Etisalat’s status as a key strategic provider
to building an international-standard ICT
of information and communications
platform with their new facility which is an
technology (ICT) in the region. Its capabilities
ideal location to host our disaster recovery functions,” said Dhaheri.
have been significantly increased through the AED 400 million data centre in Jebel Ali, which is the largest data centre of its type in
new data centre,” said Al Ahmed. “ICT is a major growth area for Etisalat
“Disaster recovery is a sensitive and critical aspect of our business that helps
which is demonstrated by our commitment
maintain our corporate integrity, security and
to this new facility in Jebel Ali. Our technical
confidence, so Al Hilal Bank had to ensure
President, Business Solutions at Etisalat,
expertise in this field is world-class, and, with
that we chose the right partner to handle this
said that the agreement with Al Hilal Bank
the new state-of-the-art data centre, we are
crucial function. Etisalat is one of the largest
demonstrates that the biggest companies in
confirming our market-leading position as a full
companies in the UAE with a long history
the UAE trust and rely on Etisalat to provide
ICT provider for the business sector,” he added.
of successful business relationships and
the Middle East. Abdulla Ebrahim Al Ahmed, Senior Vice
Saif Al Dhaheri, Executive Vice President,
their critical ICT services.
innovative ICT solutions. We are delighted to
Al Hilal Bank, said that its trust and
be the first corporate client to occupy their
banks in the UAE. We are delighted to have
confidence in Etisalat’s vast experience in
new data centre, the largest in the Middle
them as the launch customer for our brand
managing and running nine data centres in
East,” he added.
“Al Hilal Bank is one of the fastest emerging
Etisalat signs agreement with HAAD for disaster recovery hosting Etisalat and Health Authority
of government requirements gives
satisfaction by meeting
Abu Dhabi (HAAD) used GITEX
us a significant advantage in this
the current expectations of
as an opportunity to sign an
market sector,” he said.
businesses and stakeholders, and
Zaid Al Siksek, CEO, HAAD, said
agreement that will see Etisalat
this agreement will safeguard
capacity requirements of these
recovery infrastructure.
the critical healthcare services
businesses. In this context HAAD
offered by HAAD.
has established a partnership
As part of the ICT solution for
“HAAD has taken proactive
HAAD, Etisalat will provide servers,
with Etisalat to have a disaster
storage, backup, virtualisation and
ICT solutions for government
steps to ensure continued business
recovery site in Al Ain along
replication services within its high-
departments in Abu Dhabi.
services and operations to all
with full managed services and
healthcare industries and citizens
maintenance,” he added.
tech Al Ain data centre.
“Etisalat is a leader in developing
This project also ensures that
turnkey end-to-end solutions, and
within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Senior Vice President, Business
our data centre hosting service
during any kind of catastrophic
HAAD meets the compliance
Solutions, Etisalat, said the
is attracting more and more
events or disasters,” Al Siksek said.
requirements of the Abu Dhabi
signing of the agreement
government departments to house
with HAAD demonstrated the
their sensitive information. Our
continuously available services
and other industry renowned
trusted capabilities of Etisalat’s
technical and intellectual knowledge
to ensure high levels of customer
standards like ISO/IEC 27001.
Abdulla Ebrahim Al Ahmed,
14
supports scalability and future
host HAAD’s critical disaster
ICT Insight - Etisalat Business Solutions Update
“HAAD aims to provide
government systems security
News
Etisalat and SAP tie-up to improve Enterprise Mobility Solutions Etisalat introduced new business mobile
and innovative ways to improve workforce
application ‘SMART Mobility Suite for
operations for businesses,” said Abdulla
SAP Solution’ in association with SAP, a
Hashim, Senior Vice President, ICT, Etisalat. One of the suite’s options is the Mobile
leading provider in enterprise mobility for
Work Force Management Solution which can
businesses and consumers.
be integrated with multiple backend systems
Etisalat’s ‘SMART Mobility Suite for SAP Solution’ aims to expand the enterprise
such as SAP, Maximo, Oracle, GIS Esri and
mobility of the UAE business sector by
many more. The solution has capabilities to
enabling industries to utilise mobile
run on multiple devices with true crossplatform support that, unlike other solutions,
technology to streamline their workforce management and workflows. In particular, it
“Partnering with SAP allows Etisalat to offer
doesn’t require generating and maintaining separate code for each device platform.
will improve productivity in areas of business
efficient and comprehensive mobility solutions
operation such as field force management,
that will increase productivity for companies
inventory management, workflow approvals,
in the UAE. This agreement confirms our
integrated with peripherals such as GIS,
IT asset management, fleet management and
leadership position in the field of mobility
GPS, barcode screen scanning, RFID and
facilities management.
solutions, and we will continue to explore new
Bluetooth.
Hashim said this solution can also be
Etisalat to provide dedicated services for Dubai Department of Economic Development Etisalat announced a partnership
delivery and organisational efficiency
with Dubai’s Department of
across DED and its agencies,” said His
Economic Development (DED) to
Excellency Sami Al Qamzi, Director
provide dedicated information and
General, Department of Economic
communications technology (ICT)
Development. Abdulla Almana, General
services for DED and its agencies.
Manager - Dubai Region, Etisalat,
The partnership is in line with DED’s efforts to provide an
added: “Etisalat’s partnership with
improved service experience to
Dubai’s Department of Economic
customers as well as employees
Development is a validation of
and forms part of Etisalat’s
our commitment to partake in the
strategy to deliver enhanced
sustainable economic development
telecom and ICT services to key
of the Emirate via our sophisticated ICT infrastructure and operational
business hubs in the UAE. Under the agreement, Etisalat will establish a dedicated presence at DED through an all-
ICT services as well as help Etisalat
progressively implemented various
efficiencies. Etisalat will provide the
serve DED on a priority basis.
eServices to improve overall ease
best resources to the Department
of doing business in Dubai. We are
and we will ensure that the needs
“The Department of Economic
encompassing outlet, which will
Development has established a
confident that our partnership with
of DED are constantly assessed and
bring all the benefits of enhanced
dynamic ICT environment and
Etisalat will enhance our service
integrated into our offering.”
ICT Insight - Etisalat Business Solutions Update
15