UAE Accelerates AI Infrastructure: Etisalat Launches Transformative Connectivity Expansion
His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan has witnessed the launch of etisalat's landmark digital infrastructure project, set to increase international connectivity capacity to over 500 terabits per second by 2030—a twenty-five-fold expansion positioning the UAE as a global technology leader.
His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, today inaugurated etisalat’s transformative infrastructure initiative, designed to substantially enhance the nation’s digital capabilities and readiness for artificial intelligence advancement. In his capacity as Chairman of the Emirates Investment Authority, His Highness received briefings on the telecommunications group’s forward-looking strategy to develop critical digital infrastructure aligned with accelerating technological evolution.
The project represents an ambitious expansion of international connectivity capacity from the current 20 terabits per second to over 500 terabits per second by 2030—representing a twenty-five-fold increase. This enhancement incorporates diversified routing pathways engineered to optimise connectivity efficiency, reliability and latency performance across global networks.
His Highness emphasised the strategic importance of robust digital infrastructure as a foundational element supporting emerging technologies and fostering an innovation-driven, knowledge-based economy. He highlighted the necessity for coordinated national endeavour, noting that the UAE’s advancement in artificial intelligence demands comprehensive institutional commitment from both public and private sectors.
In his remarks, His Highness articulated the nation’s overarching vision: “The UAE continues to invest in building advanced digital infrastructure, guided by its vision for the future and its belief that readiness for what comes next starts with having the enablers that support economic growth, accelerate innovation and strengthen the country’s global competitiveness.”
His Highness further stated: “AI is a central pillar in our development journey moving forward and developing our digital capabilities creates the ecosystem needed to harness its potential and ensure that every institution in this country, public and private, are empowered to build and innovate with AI.”
The initiative coincides with etisalat’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations, marking the unveiling of the group’s refreshed strategic vision to establish itself as a leading AI-powered, enabling telecommunications provider. The infrastructure project represents the group’s inaugural major commitment under its new four-engine business strategy encompassing telecommunications, artificial intelligence and business solutions, infrastructure, and fintech operations.
Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Chairman of etisalat group, characterised the undertaking as essential for the UAE’s technological sovereignty: “This project reflects our conviction that the UAE should not simply adopt AI, but govern it and build with it. That requires digital infrastructure at a scale that would prepare us for the future.”
Operating across 38 countries and serving over 250 million subscribers, etisalat’s expanded infrastructure will extend benefits well beyond UAE borders, strengthening the nation’s integration with the global digital economy whilst reinforcing local digital sovereignty and resilience.
Source: WAM