It is offering telcos its expertise in modelling for AI and machine learning, customer engagement and more
The unit of the operator group formerly known as Etisalat, e& international, is inviting other telcos from around the globe to partner it via a new programme.
e& partner networks will offer support to fellow operators in areas including customer engagement, modelling for AI and machine learning, optimising CapEx and OpEx, and digital and mobile financial services.
Mikhail Gerchuk, Chief Executive Officer of e& International, said, “The scale of the opportunity available to us through the e& partner networks is enormous. With e& international at the forefront of the new strategy, e& partner networks will be able to leverage the privilege of the e& brand and benefit from a value-added engagement with telecoms-related business objectives.
“e& can support these independent partners who currently may be facing challenges in terms of matching the scale and expertise of their competitors, talent recruitment, and high operating costs. Together, we can create a business proposition for consistent growth with value-added benefits from operational savings and uplifting topline revenue growth for our partners”.
A growing trend
A number of other operators are also offering their expertise, services and products to fellow operators, including: SK Telecom, notably but not exclusively with the metaverse; and Rakuten Symphony is leveraging what Japan’s Rakuten Mobile learned in building the world’s first cloud-based network.
e& group owns a 12% stake in Vodafone Group since January and has said it has no intention of mounting a takeover, but wishes to work with the group.
In December, e& enterprise launched public cloud managed services in the Middle East Africa and Pakistan in partnership with Bespin Global. e&’s portfolio of brands is worth more than $14 billion, according to the 2023 Brand Finance Global 500 Report released at the World Economic Forum in Davos, making it the most valuable portfolio of telecom brands in the Middle East and Africa.