Etisalat Group has unveiled an ambitious strategic initiative to drastically overhaul its digital infrastructure, with the goal of increasing its international connectivity capacity to over 500 terabits per second (Tbps) by 2030. This massive 25-fold expansion—up from the current 20Tbps—was announced in the presence of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The project is designed to provide the robust, low-latency connectivity required to support the UAE’s burgeoning artificial intelligence sector, cloud computing services, and the broader digital economy, ensuring that both public and private institutions have the necessary tools to innovate.

This initiative marks the first major milestone under the group's new strategic vision, which focuses on integrating AI across its telecommunications, fintech, and infrastructure business units. By developing diverse and resilient international routes, Etisalat aims to cement the UAE’s position as a global technology hub while safeguarding digital sovereignty. With operations spanning 38 countries and serving 250 million subscribers, this expansion will not only facilitate the country's AI ambitions but also bridge the UAE’s national infrastructure more effectively with the global digital ecosystem, ensuring faster and more reliable data flow for years to come.