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GITEX Showcases 5G And AI As Pillars Of Future Connectivity
The “Intelligent Connectivity” conference explored the future of 5G and autonomous vehicles during the world’s largest tech event.
GITEX GLOBAL 2024, the world’s largest tech and startup event, has featured an “Intelligent Connectivity” theme, with 5G a major focus. Visitors caught a glimpse into the potential of wireless technology when combined with artificial intelligence (AI), and how groundbreaking technologies would shape the future of connectivity.
GITEX GLOBAL 2024 also brought together many influential voices from global enterprises and organizations, including Khalid Murshed, Chief Technology & Information Officer at e&, Wang Hui, President of NCE Data Communication Domain at Huawei, and Thomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary General at the ITU. Also participating were Roque Lozano from Nokia, Kazuhiro Gomi of NTT Research, and SG Chung from SK Telecom.
The event showcased a wide array of advanced technologies from major exhibitors such as Huawei, e&, Nokia, China Telecom, Ericsson, Cisco, and Beyon. These companies demonstrated next-generation 5G applications, highlighting the event’s role as a key platform for exploring connectivity’s future and digital transformation.
5G And AI: Catalyzing The Future Of Telecommunications
Khalid Murshed of e&, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the Middle East and North Africa, spoke about the transformative power of 5G and AI. According to him, “5G and 5G advanced serve as a platform for everyone to come in to innovate,” driving the demand for further advancements in network capabilities.
He added that their focus is not merely on technological leadership but on building networks that enable new use cases. “We’re not just building a network for the sake of technology leadership […] we have live networks and private 5G,” Murshed explained, underscoring the significance of innovation in enhancing networks and AI integration.
The Role Of 5G In Autonomous Vehicles
A key highlight was the impact of 5G on mobility, particularly autonomous vehicles: Siyuan Liu, Head of IoT Partnership & Strategy at China Unicom Global, emphasized that 5G is central to developing autonomous driving, which promises to revolutionize transportation by improving efficiency and safety through real-time decision-making.
Large Language Models (LLMs) are also making waves across industries, including telecommunications. Wang Hui of Huawei discussed how AI applications are being utilized in China for autonomous vehicles and healthcare, showcasing the broad potential of these new technologies.
Revealing Disruptive Innovations
Thousands of visitors explored some of the most revolutionary products powered by 5G. Notably, e& announced a partnership with Vodafone Business IoT to deliver in-vehicle connectivity for Mercedes-Benz in the UAE, set to launch in early 2025.
e& also displayed the Nissan Hyper-Force, an all-electric supercar connected through their 5G network, and introduced their new AI-powered digital advisors tailored to local cultural needs. Meanwhile, Avaya exhibited its “superpower agents,” AI-driven tools designed to help businesses make scalable decisions.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Also Read: Protecting Your WhatsApp Account From Hackers: Kaspersky Expert Tips
The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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