Etisalat to boost social media network across UAE

UAE telecom provider Etisalat to boost social media network across the UAE in an effort to strengthen knowledge based economy in the country.

It has joined hands with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for the Arab Strategy Forum 2013 that starts on Tuesday with the theme
“Social Networks and Knowledge Society”.

Etisalat says it has already laid the foundation for such an initiative, thanks to its technologically advanced infrastructure development.

The company last year announced that it spent almost Dh19billion for its fiber optics project alone – an attempt to connect UAE homes with the technologically advanced fiber optics network.

It recently completed connecting fiber optics networks to the entire city of Abu Dhabi, making it the first capital city in the world to reach more than 80 per cent penetration rate in fiber to the home connectivity.

Number of homes connected to the network (Home Pass) is 1,380,046, while the percentage of homes with fiber optics connected inside them is 95 per cent of all connected and ready homes.

The Arab Strategy Forum aims to bring together several business entities and individuals to discuss the contribution of social networks to create a knowledge-based society and together chart the path for development.

“By supporting all entities linked to this central vision, and by providing the basic infrastructure to enable social media communication in the country, Etisalat hopes to support knowledge development through social media,” Ali Al Ahmed, Chief Corporate Communications Officer at Etisalat, UAE.

The telecom giant which operates in 15 countries across the Middle East, Africa and Asia says it has been very active on social networks and has used the medium to reach out to its clients.

“Besides being able to reach out to a global audience, and communicate the company’s vision and future plans, Etisalat’s online presence has
added business value for the company. Since January 2012, we resolved 6775 out of 7598 customer issues online. We also created a separate
identity on Twitter, @etisalatcare Launch, to reach out to customers online and we received over 800 followers in the first six hours of the launch,” says Ahmed.

The company has also been involved in various knowledge development programs in the community and government initiatives like Absher.

The Irshaad program, launched by Etisalat’s CSR Foundation Ayaadi, teaches counselors and teachers how to implement the latest educational policies in schools. It also provides students the requisite knowledge to create a highly skilled national work force.

The program is currently supporting about 100 teachers and counselors.

It recently partnered with the Abu Dhabi Education Council to connect 268 public schools across Abu Dhabi to provide high speed connectivity
for teachers and staff to improve quality of education through use of advanced ICT services.
 

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