Etisalat International executive reflects on 50 years of growth and digital transformation
Khalid Hijazi, chief operations officer at Etisalat International, said the group's 50th anniversary represents a story of strategic vision and continuous technological change. He noted that Etisalat has moved from building telecom and fiber networks to leading 5G, cloud, and AI infrastructure. Hijazi also recounted his career path from Etisalat Egypt in 2016 to international strategy and operations leadership.
Khalid Hijazi, chief operations officer at Etisalat International, described the group's 50th anniversary as more than a calendar milestone. In a LinkedIn post, he framed it as a story of long-term strategy, ambition, and continuous technological change aimed at connecting communities.
He traced Etisalat's evolution from telecom and fiber networks to 5G leadership and digital, cloud, and AI infrastructure. Hijazi also recounted joining Etisalat Egypt in 2016 in corporate affairs, later leading its business segment, moving to group strategy and regulatory affairs in 2023, and then becoming COO.
The anniversary narrative may reinforce expectations that telecom operators will act as broader digital-infrastructure providers. Customers, businesses, and public services could benefit if 5G, cloud, and AI investments improve access, efficiency, and cross-border connectivity. Employees and partners may also feel pressure to sustain innovation and performance across markets. The emphasis on human and economic impact suggests the company's influence could extend beyond communications into how economies expand and communities interact, though actual outcomes will depend on implementation and access.