End users are transforming the subsea cable industry. In the era of cloud, content, and real-time communications, it isn’t just about connecting A to B, but optimising networking to deliver differentiated end user experiences. Successful network operators, now and in the future, are focused on going beyond basic connectivity to serve the entire value chain, and meet specialised end-user demands.
The content and over-the-top (OTT) players that have entered the subsea cable market have taken an active role, and are pushing existing network operators to refocus on digital experience.
Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft already have sole, major or part ownership of over 25 unique subsea cables between them. These new entrants are behind about 80% of transatlantic cable investment planned between 2018 to 2020, up from under 20% in the 3 years through 2017, according to TeleGeography.
The growing influence of these players represents the need to reprioritise and focus on serving the entire value chain. Organisations that fail to understand the importance of end user experience, and do not progress with this industry shift, face being pushed out of the market and labelled “legacy providers”.
At the same time, emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Smart City innovations, are all driving capacity demand, and network operators will need to go beyond “best effort” connectivity. Network operators locally in the Middle East, and across the globe must be prepared for these future technologies to reshape the networking market and transform their businesses accordingly.
The winners in our industry will be the operators that make concrete plans to evolve their businesses and reshape their operations to cater to the future needs of not just their immediate customers, but partners, enterprises, and end users.
This is why we have launched our Experience 2022 strategy at GBI, which is committed to accelerating the delivery of optimised digital experiences for our partners, customers, and consumers. The strategy will ensure Qatar and the Middle East have the network infrastructure to support the cloud, content, and real-time communications services of the future.
Experience 2022 is about using GBI’s solid foundation to support long-term innovation locally and across the region, and to consistently deliver for the entire value chain. We are preparing for massive data transfer, hyper-sensitive services, and the delivery of real-time mission-critical applications.
Our strategy builds on our years of financial stability, a robust business model and long-term commitment to the market, while refocusing infrastructure development by optimising application, and service experience. It also simplifies our internal processes to better support customers, and partners end-to-end.
The key features of Experience 2022 are:
• Transforming processes from basic connectivity and restructuring customer service and support, to enable a superior user experience.
• Upgrading to the latest available technologies, to improve the network uptime, minimising outages and ensuring multiple diverse options.
• Focusing future investments on unique, low-latency and differentiated routes.
• Adopting an adaptive policy of continual transformation.
Underpinning our approach is our international carrier-grade fibre-optic network. It includes a mix of submarine cables systems and terrestrial infrastructure, connecting financial and communications hubs across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Experience 2022 will enable our partners, customers and end users to have the freedom to deploy and use mission-critical applications and services, with the best possible user experience. GBI is dedicated to removing the barriers to innovation in the Middle East and supporting the growth of global cloud, content and real-time communications.
