TELECOMS
Telcoms firms have to contend with rapid advances in technology and ever-growing appetite for services.
The market is extremely saturated, and every telecommunications provider offers a similar range of services. However, we aim for innovative and customer-driven services, particularly in the cyber-security segment. We notably provide CCTV solutions and access-to-control security. We have diversified our income and try to think out of the box by selecting our projects in a unique way. In telecommunications, we have to differentiate in Kuwait. As a telecoms operator, our services and coverage can easily keep up with European or US standards. For fixed business, however, we relay our services based on the government's infrastructure; we cannot do our own. It is old and there is a rollout of fiber, which sees slow progress. This is what we are aiming for as Kuwait has been covered by fiber by only 12%. There is a great deal more to do to deliver the service in a better way. Technology-wise, we try hard to catch up. Companies and banks are now respecting and admitting this ascension and there is greater budget and spending. It will grow in the future and ICT infrastructure will play a big role in that process.
We are especially focusing on Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. At the same time, we also operate in Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, and Egypt. We have built up a full sales team to work on a regional strategy, which is a game-changer for Tawasul Telecom. With this comes new product development that targets that sector of enterprises, as we have a steady plan to launch two or three products every six months. We do not want to introduce too much too fast and overwhelm those markets. The other side of the coin is our wholesale business. With this we are just getting closer and closer to our international partners and meeting them when they want us to meet. We also have some new partnerships coming up: We are working with security partners to provide security services to enterprises. This involves an outsourced security model with shared revenue with the partners, or one-off deals like consultancy services and security testing. In addition, Tawasul Telecom is spearheading the trend to use cloud storage in the region as we know what the region needs.
Our focus has been on shifting our attention from our legacy services of turnkey information systems to cloud-based services, for both scalability and reach. However, we still primarily work with governments and enterprises. We have been concentrating on consumer services, governments, and on multinational companies. We have sought to introduce cloud-based services to the SME sector, and that will occupy us for a few years yet. The market here is still too young to adapt to cloud services, but it has already adapted in many fields and we believe it will pick up greatly in the coming five years. We are seeing a huge acceptance to move over to the cloud from our clients. We also have remote control applications, where users remotely control oil and gas pipelines and can connect globally through the cloud anywhere in the world. So the opportunities and benefits that cloud-based services offer is huge. We primarily provide these telecommunications services to the US government, NATO, and a number of EU member states. Gulf Telecom collaborates with many defense and intelligence agencies to identify real threats to provide early intervention and help prevent attacks.
TELECOMS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Guest Speaker
Dato’ Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister , Malaysia
TBY talks to Dato' Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, on the growing contribution that Islamic countries are making to the global economy and how Islamic financing can offer new opportunities to industry and academia.
read articleInterview
HE Khaled Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudan, Minister, Commerce and Industry (MoCI)
TBY talks to HE Khaled Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudan, Minister of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), on tools and strategies for diversifying the economy, the role of international players in supporting a wider range of sectors, and the rapidly developing food industry.
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HE Yousef Al-Ebraheem, Advisor , Al-Diwan Al-Amiri
TBY talks to HE Yousef Al-Ebraheem, Economic Advisor to the Al-Diwan Al-Amiri, on the need for a rejuvenation of Kuwait's infrastructure to support an economy that has come a long way and the role education will play in delivering the expertise required by the society.
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Dr. Khaled A. Mahdi, Secretary-General , Supreme Council for Planning & Development (GSSCPD)
TBY talks to Dr. Khaled A. Mahdi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Planning & Development (GSSCPD), on the breakdown of Kuwait's long-term economic plan, the KPIs that will benchmark its success, and what Vision 2035 means for the nature of the economy.
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Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, Director General, Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA)
TBY talks to Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, Director General of the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), on launching an investment promotion conference, attracting the right partners for PPP, and expectations for the year ahead.
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HE Dr. Mohammad M. Al-Zuhair, Executive Chairman, Kuwait National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprise Development
TBY talks to HE Dr. Mohammad M. Al-Zuhair, Executive Chairman of the Kuwait National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprise Development, on empowering young Kuwaitis, IT and entrepreneurialism, and the growth of fintech.
read articleFocus: Still all in the family?
Merchant families in Kuwait
Family-owned businesses play a major role in the Kuwaiti economy. However, with many approaching the third generation of management, they are starting to come across unique problems that may pose issues for the greater economy.
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HE Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, Director, Environmental Public Authority (EPA)
TBY talks to HE Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, Director of Environmental Public Authority (EPA), on how oil companies can contribute to Kuwait's vision on sustainability and the various projects that are coming to fruition.
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Dr. Samira S. Omar Asem, Director General, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)
TBY talks to Dr. Samira S. Omar Asem, Director General of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), on commercializing the green innovations coming from R&D initiatives, the role of collaboration across multiple sectors, and projects that we should expect to see more of in the future.
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Khaled Abdulrazzaq Al Khaled, Vice-Chairman and CEO, Boursa Kuwait Company
TBY talks to Khaled Abdulrazzaq Al Khaled, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Boursa Kuwait Company, on the takeover of the Kuwait Stock Exchange and the role the bourse plays in both the privatization of government entities and as a source of capital for family businesses.
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HE Essam Abdul Mohsen Al-Marzouq, Minister, Oil & Minister of Electricity and Water
TBY talks to HE Essam Abdul Mohsen Al-Marzouq, Minister of Oil & Minister of Electricity and Water, on cooperation with other ministries, the private sector's role in energy, and upcoming regulations.
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Ghalib Shlash Safouq, Assistant Undersecretary for the Construction Projects Sector, Ministry of Public Works
TBY talks to Ghalib Shlash Safouq, Assistant Undersecretary for the Construction Projects Sector at the Ministry of Public Works, on Kuwaiti companies, the country's healthcare facilities, and the role of international companies.
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Khaled K. Al Mashaan, Vice-Chairman & CEO, ALARGAN International Real Estate Company
TBY talks to Khaled K. Al Mashaan, Vice-Chairman & CEO of ALARGAN International Real Estate Company, on drivers of growth, operating throughout the region, and real estate prices in Kuwait.
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Tawfiq Ahmed Bin Sultan, Chairman, Middle East Telecommunications Company (METCO)
TBY talks to Tawfiq Ahmed Bin Sultan, Chairman of the Middle East Telecommunications Company (METCO), on e-government potential, the future of the economy, and the state of technology uptake in Kuwait.
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Sheikh Yousef Abdullah Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah, Director General, Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA)
TBY talks to Sheikh Yousef Abdullah Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah, Director General of Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA), on his operational plans for the near future and turning Kuwait into a regional logistics hub.
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HE Khaled Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudan, Acting Minister, State for Youth Affairs
TBY talks to HE Khaled Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudan, Acting Minister of State for Youth Affairs, on e-platforms and blended learning programs, developing ICT skills, and preparing young people for tomorrow.
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Eng. Ali Hussein Al Youha, Secretary-General, National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters
TBY talks to Eng. Ali Hussein Al Youha, Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, on the activities of the Council and works to preserve and enhance Kuwait's cultural heritage.
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