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.