Jad Hajj

Industrial companies in the GCC are facing the disruptive power of Industry 4.0, the new wave of intelligent automation that is transforming manufacturing. Embracing this fourth industrial revolution would allow many of them to leapfrog stages of development and compete with the best globally. To fully capitalise on Industry 4.0’s benefits, industrial companies need to develop new capabilities over the next two to three years, and radically transform their organisations.

In recent years, telecom operators in the Middle East and Africa have enjoyed healthy growth, with revenues up 6.7% per annum from 2011-2015. The days of easy growth, however, could soon end. Consumer markets are becoming saturated and operators face increased regulatory and competitive pressures.

Rapid growth in the demand for digital services -- including machine to machine (M2M), applications and content, solutions development, cloud computing, systems integration, and managed services -- among consumers, businesses, and governments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is creating a valuable growth opportunity for telecom operators. Telecom operators have the right to play in this fast-emerging market. Their ubiquitous networks, existing customer relationships, and… عرض المزيد

Rapid growth in the demand for digital services -- including machine to machine (M2M), applications and content, solutions development, cloud computing, systems integration, and managed services -- among consumers, businesses, and governments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is creating a valuable growth opportunity for telecom operators. Telecom operators have the right to play in this fast-emerging market. Their ubiquitous networks, existing customer relationships, and hard-won insights into customer behavior will be difficult for other competitors to replicate. عرض أقل

GCC countries recognize the need for innovation as the main catalyst for achieving sustainable economic growth through economic diversification. Instituting a national model that establishes coherent linkages in an innovation system is the best way forward.

With the explosive growth in demand for smartphones and notebook computers in recent years, it is hard to believe that corporate technology users are still finding room in their bags and attachés for yet another device. The rising popularity of tablet computers, though, suggests they are somehow finding a way.

The enterprise segment will present Middle East telecom operators with a large potential growth opportunity as the region sees increases in both the number of businesses and their spending on ICT.

Businesses and governments in the Middle East, like those around the world, increasingly rely on information and communications technology (ICT) to improve experiences for their customers and constituents, enhance productivity, and reduce costs. With these requirements come greater demands: Middle East enterprises today want voice and data solutions, both fixed and mobile, that fit their needs—and they expect telecom operators to deliver them. To do so, operators will need to truly understand… عرض المزيد

Businesses and governments in the Middle East, like those around the world, increasingly rely on information and communications technology (ICT) to improve experiences for their customers and constituents, enhance productivity, and reduce costs. With these requirements come greater demands: Middle East enterprises today want voice and data solutions, both fixed and mobile, that fit their needs—and they expect telecom operators to deliver them. To do so, operators will need to truly understand the varying needs and demands of their different existing customers. عرض أقل

Traditional voice and Internet access services, which for years constituted the telecom industry’s foundation, progressively are becoming commodity businesses. Non-traditional players such as Google, Apple, and Facebook are increasing their share of what used to be exclusively the telecom sector’s revenue and continue to threaten long-held business and customer-relationship models. These factors are driving telecom operators to seek new ways to sustain their business.

Since 2003, the broadband environment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has experienced rapid changes. Market liberalization, increased competition, and the introduction of new network technologies are all increasing consumer demand for broadband access. In 2006, most MENA countries experienced double- and even triple-digit growth in the number of broadband subscribers. As a result, there are significant opportunities for telecommunications operators to tap into this potential and… عرض المزيد

Since 2003, the broadband environment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has experienced rapid changes. Market liberalization, increased competition, and the introduction of new network technologies are all increasing consumer demand for broadband access. In 2006, most MENA countries experienced double- and even triple-digit growth in the number of broadband subscribers. As a result, there are significant opportunities for telecommunications operators to tap into this potential and increase their revenues and bottom line margins. At the same time, however, operators face difficult marketing, technical, and operational decisions. عرض أقل

Web 2.0 activity—that is, Internet usage that involves online collaboration, networking between individual users, and user-created content—is growing rapidly. Consumers no longer visit the Web to passively take in content; rather, they are actively creating content themselves. In this new era of interactivity, corporations must be aware of what is taking place on the Internet and in social media spaces like MySpace, Wikipedia, and Second Life, and must decide how to participate themselves. They… عرض المزيد

Web 2.0 activity—that is, Internet usage that involves online collaboration, networking between individual users, and user-created content—is growing rapidly. Consumers no longer visit the Web to passively take in content; rather, they are actively creating content themselves. In this new era of interactivity, corporations must be aware of what is taking place on the Internet and in social media spaces like MySpace, Wikipedia, and Second Life, and must decide how to participate themselves. They must develop a strategy to address the threats posed by Web 2.0 and seize the opportunities it offers. In addition, they may need to change their business models to better fit the new online environment. Companies that ignore the growing trend of Web 2.0 usage do so at their own peril. عرض أقل