Etisalat's infrastructure investment spend will exceed Dh3bn this year, encompassing upgrades to its mobile and fibre optic networks, together with new areas including artificial intelligence, robotics and the Internet of Things, a senior official said on Sunday.
''Due to these investments, 3G network coverage has reached 99.58 per cent while 4G LTE is at 97.78 per cent," said Saleh Al Abdooli, the chief executive of the Etisalat Group, according to the state news agency WAM.
"Fibre-to-the-home [FTTH] penetration has grown to reach 93.28 per cent. This helped position the UAE as a market with the highest FTTH coverage in the world last year among all its global counterparts."
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Mr Al Abdooli's comments came ahead of the opening of the GITEX Technology Week conference and exhibition in Dubai on Sunday.
''We are now working to complete the 5G network infrastructure to align it with the international standards for the launch in 2020. Etisalat is also preparing the infrastructure for the Expo Dubai 2020 network to become one of the fastest, smartest and most advanced networks in the world to ensure that visitors enjoy an exciting digitally enhanced experience," he added.
GITEX Technology Week, being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, runs until October 12.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
In 2018, the ICRC received 27,756 trace requests in the Middle East alone. The global total was 45,507.
There are 139,018 global trace requests that have not been resolved yet, 55,672 of these are in the Middle East region.
More than 540,000 individuals approached the ICRC in the Middle East asking to be reunited with missing loved ones in 2018.
The total figure for the entire world was 654,000 in 2018.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scoreline:
Al Wahda 2
Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'
Al Nassr 3
Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'
The Little Things
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto
Four stars
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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