5G-powered solutions will be a major feature at Gitex

Sajjad Ahmad, Staff Reporter

Dubai will be the epicentre of the innovation economy in October when Gitex Technology Week and Gitex Future Stars – the region’s premier technology and startup events – get underway from 6th-10th October 2019.

Gitex Technology Week’s 39th edition will present the region’s biggest-ever 5G showcase, its most illustrious investor-startup gathering, and a springboard for knowledge-building around AI, robotics and next-generation immersive technology, all encompassed under the movement of ‘Synergising the Mind and Technology Economy’.

These topics, along with thousands of concepts and brands, will be showcased live in the company of 100,000+ tech experts and across 1.4 million square feet and 22 halls divided into sectors including 5G, Artificial Intelligence, Future Mobility, Gitex Lifestyle Tech and Smart Cities, which will be the definitive venue for insight into the smart government of the future. Saudi Arabia is the official country partner for Gitex 2019, and will be represented by its smart logistics platform Fasah.

Mahir Abdulkarim Julfar, Senior Vice President, Venues Dubai World Trade Centre, said,” the UAE is adopting new technological innovation and transforming it economy. Gitex is a platform to showcase and discuss the new trends in Industry.”

Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Events Management, Dubai World Trade Centre, organisers of Gitex, said: “ Gitex continues to be the definitive platform where enterprises, startups and government entities come together, striving to engage the global technology community to harness the limitless ingenuity of humans and the power of technology to ensure meaningful benefits and impacts on society through intelligent discourse.”

Nearly a decade in the making, 5G is finally becoming a reality and is set to transform the Middle East’s economy. It represents a major breakthrough that will change the way that devices connect to the internet, and to each other. 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.  Gitex is set to feature a key presence from 5G heavyweights that are already in the process of transforming the world’s connectivity.   Dr Ahmed Bin Ali, Group Senior Vice President, Etisalat, said,  “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. This is in line with the UAE’s Vision 2021 and Etisalat’s strategy ‘Driving the Digital Future to Empower Societies’. At Gitex this year, we will showcase 5G-powered solutions for the first time globally, as it’s the perfect platform to inspire the visitors and customers to experience the immense potential of future revolutions and technologies.”

 Hani Sobih ELKukhun, Vice President, Strategy, Huawei Middle East, said, “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.  “Wojciech Bajda, Vice President, Middle East and Africa, and Head of Gulf Council Countries, Ericsson, said,  “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. As an emerging technology, 5G is unleashing potential that is yet to be realised. I believe Gitex 2019 is a great forum to inspire consumers and enterprises with the unlimited opportunities that 5G will bring us.”  Gitex Future Stars, the leading event for tomorrow’s brightest technological minds, will feature over 750 local and international startups and corporate accelerators from more than 80 countries, and more than 1,500 investors and corporate buyers, as well as an all-new presence from countries including Austria, Brazil and Italy.

Gitex Future Stars will  see The Government of Abu Dhabi looking to make its mark on the event, with the Emirate’s hottest innovation prospects, including Hub71, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), StartAD, Krypto Labs, Department of Health Abu Dhabi, all aiming to put Abu Dhabi on the map as an innovation hub of the future.