Nicolas Blixell

Ericsson is on a mission to get the best out of 5G connectivity and digital technology. We spoke to Mr. Blixell at GITEX Global 2022, which saw some of the best minds gather to showcase the latest developments in technology and innovation.

* The information industry in the world has witnessed rapid developments…

– What is your comment? How do you summarize the most important of these developments?

During the Covid-19 pandemic, we realized the power held by telecommunications and digital technology as office across every nation had to abruptly shift to a remote working structure. Businesses and families alike were reliant on technology in order to communicate, often times through high quality video and audio calls. Shifting to the digital space not only increased data traffic but also generated new types of lifestyles. What did this new reality mean for Ericsson? Throughout the pandemic, our mission was to innovate to deliver on this surge in data consumption and provide operators with necessary high-capacity connectivity to meet emerging digital needs. We were then ready to deliver and mobilized our resources and solutions to address the digital needs of our customers and partners. Our products focused on offering high capacity all the while delivering on our sustainability promise to reduce the energy consumption of our solutions.

* What about the development and evolution in the Arab region? Was it consistent with w the development in the developed countries?

I’ve had the opportunity to work around the world and I’ve observed one need to be consistent throughout every market: everyone desires access to fast and reliable connectivity, and the Middle East region is no exception. 5G is however seeing a faster adoption in certain countries. Ericsson’s latest ConsumerLab study forecasts 49 per cent of smartphone users in the UAE intend to upgrade to a 5G subscription in the next 12 months, showing 5G adoption to be inflation resilient. The report also observed 5G pushing up usage of cloud gaming and augmented reality in the country, paving the way for the metaverse with more than half of 4G users saying they will start or increase using AR applications in the real world once they sign up for 5G. Only time will tell, but I see great potential for the adoption of future connectivity technologies in this region.

* What about your participation in GITEX and how important is it?

We are on a mission to bring our vision of a future of limitless connectivity to the world, and this year we brought it to the Middle East. We seized an opportunity to highlight the connections that make the unimaginable possible, helping to shape an exciting and positive future. Visitors were able to imagine experiential learning for all as we push the boundaries of extended reality and bring immersive entertainment experiences. We also highlighted how we redefine business with real-time collaboration in the mirror world, and how connectivity is opening up new possibilities to pioneer a sustainable future. GITEX is one of the most high-profile platforms in the region to interact with our partners, consumers, and enterprises and to show them the power our 5G technology portfolio possesses and how it’s building communication networks for the future.

* What about your projects and aspirations for the year 2023?

We are determined to continue working closely with all our partners while we develop new products with higher efficiency and lower emissions. 5G has the great potential of optimizing lives and we wish to unlock the potential of innovation and technology to accelerate industry 4.0 across the region.

Enterprise is one particular space that can gain substantial advancements from 5G. The region is yet to fully explore the opportunities brought about by real-time data-driven automation, and never-seen-before levels of agility that produce an explosion of transformative industrial innovation.