du, the leading telecom and digital services provider, has officially launched the du Innovation Center, solidifying the UAE’s commitment to pioneering new business using Next Generation Technology. At the launch of the du Innovation Center, Toni Eid, CEO of Trace Media International and Founder of Telecom Review Group, conducted an exclusive interview with Karim Benkirane, Chief Commercial Officer at du, who highlighted how du is shaping the future of connectivity by driving continuous innovation.
Modern Technology Monetization Hub
Driven by the rapid pace of tech advancements and a surging demand for new solutions, the establishment of the center marks a significant milestone. Its inception stems from du’s ambition to carve out an arena for the exploration of innovative ideas, fostering collaboration among industry leaders, and accelerating the development of technologies that will transform the future of telecommunications.
This state-of-the-art facility is more than a showcase of advanced technologies, it is a platform for partnerships among varied stakeholders. The initiative is strategically designed to cultivate a culture of innovation, strengthen market capabilities, and orchestrate an ecosystem that revolves around the customer base. The center stands as a testament to the commitment towards propelling the industry forward, ensuring it remains at the forefront of technological innovation and market competitiveness.
“The main focus of the du Innovation Center is to bring technology to life, enhance customer experience, and tailor new products and propositions to our market, including consumers, enterprises, and government sectors,” said Benkirane. “The strategy is to nurture innovation and foster collaboration by cultivating an open and inclusive atmosphere that encourages the free flow of ideas. The purpose of this Innovation Center is to serve as a platform for transforming concepts into prototypes and potential solutions into tangible demonstrations, providing customers with a concrete understanding of the solution's functionality and its practical application.
du CCO underscored the significance of Next Generation Technology including the 5G Advanced (5G-A) as the key enabler of use cases, such as Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), for both gaming and business propositions. du's focus encompasses multiple strategic areas: development of smart networks and SD-WAN, along with the deployment of mobile private networks.
Accentuating the continuous innovation of du, he also highlighted the mobile private network and APIs as key use cases. Each field is identified as a crucial pillar in the next chapter of connectivity.
Benkirane emphasized the importance of rapid experimentation at the center to ensure they can address the ever-evolving needs of the consumer and enterprise segments and set new industry standards.
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Driving Innovation through Collaboration
When asked about the impact of the du Innovation Center on the telecommunications industry, Benkirane said, “We are trying to inspire the industry and make sure that we can take it to the next level.” This stems from the UAE’s stance being one of the first adopters of 5G and 5G-A.
Benkirane stressed that collaboration across various sectors is crucial to du’s innovation strategy, noting, “du is partnering with the DIFC Innovation Hub, where we are trying to help entrepreneurs create their company, fine-tune their business model, and scale up their businesses.”
“By looking through segments, we are making a platform to ensure we can address the needs of the customers. If it's working, we take it to the market. If we fail, then we need to fail fast and we need to move to the next one,” he added.
As an early adopter of Next Generation Network in both mobile and fixed services, du aims to set new industry benchmarks, inspiring the global telecommunications industry and remaining at the forefront of evolving technology. “The ambition is for this center to act as a catalyst for the monetization of innovative ideas. We aim to propel digital solutions forward, augment connectivity, and create business opportunities through the incubation of new technologies and solutions. In essence, the overarching goal is to make a substantial contribution to a world that is more interconnected and technologically sophisticated, added Benkirane.
Leading Industry Innovation
As the company integrates 5G-A, described as the mid-point between 5G and the upcoming network revolution, 6G, the innovation center aims to deliver the right solutions and establish the UAE as one of the first movers in the race towards next-generation telecommunications.
“Innovation never sleeps,” concluded Benkirane. “Technology is evolving, and the innovation center needs to be at the forefront of innovation, addressing the needs of our segments. The long-term objectives are ambitious and clear-cut: to establish ourselves as a nucleus for unlocking the commercial potential of novel technological innovations and to persistently challenge and expand the horizons of the possible. The vision extends to crafting a sustainable ecosystem conducive to the cultivation of talent and that promotes the development of new commercial products embedded with cutting-edge technologies.”
Enterprises stand to reap considerable advantages from the innovations conceived within this hub. Elevated connectivity, augmented network performance, and the provision of access to the latest in technological advancements are just the beginning. One prime illustration of this is the work being conducted on Mobile Private Networks, which promises to equip enterprises with bespoke network solutions tailored to afford them more control and better security. Concurrently, advancements in areas such as 5G and Smart Networks are set to empower businesses to function with greater efficiency and efficacy.
The du Innovation Center reflects du’s commitment to advancing the UAE's tech sector, reaffirming the company’s role as a catalyzer of digital transformation.
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