
e&'s Khalifa Al Shamsi on engineering a new era of digital possibilities
Images: Supplied
For decades, telecommunications firms have grappled with a fundamental challenge: evolving beyond connectivity and transitioning into being a driving force of the digital economy. Few have navigated this transformation as successfully as e&.
Once a regional telecom operator, the UAE-based giant has emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing technology groups, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, fintech and innovative digital lifestyle experiences to reimagine its business model.
In 2024, the company's expansion and diversification gathered pace. A
More tellingly, e&'s majority acquisition of PPF Telecom's assets in Central and Eastern Europe — adding over 10 million new subscribers — signalled a decisive push into global markets. The company also expanded its enterprise cloud and SAP capabilities through the acquisition of GlassHouse, establishing its foothold in Türkiye, South Africa and Qatar.
Yet, at the heart of e&'s transformation lies more than just scale. Recognised by Brand Finance as the 'World's Fastest Growing Brand', e& has seen its brand value soar to $15.3bn — strengthened by the integration of the legacy 'Etisalat' brand and an organic year-on-year revenue growth of 13 per cent on a consolidated basis. It also marks an evolution that extends far beyond traditional telecoms.
'The measure of our success is not just in numbers but in the impact we create,' said Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, chairman of
e&'s impact as a global technology giant is rising rapidly, backed by a growing brand portfolio and investments exceeding $20bn. Its long-term vision centres on building a robust, future-ready digital ecosystem that empowers and enables enterprises, governments, and communities to grow and thrive.
Building
on innovation and diversification
With the company intensifying its ambition to 'Go for More' in 2025 and beyond, two complementary yet distinct verticals — e& international and e& life — will play a significant role in powering e&'s growth and diversification.
'We're enabling people to participate in the digital economy, regardless of their location. We are leveraging our core telecommunications infrastructure to support and innovate across sectors such as fintech, media, digital lifestyle, and more,' states Khalifa Al Shamsi, who helms both verticals.
Al Shamsi, who has three decades of experience in the telecoms and ICT sectors, has been instrumental in navigating the two entities through the complexities of digital transformation and expansion across regional and global markets.
'The purpose of e& life is to empower digital lifestyles by offering a suite of services that cater to the evolving needs of consumers — whether it's entertainment, financial services, or personalised experiences,' says the CEO. 'Meanwhile, e& international is a key pillar of our group strategy, driving one of our core objectives: portfolio diversification of our telco brands. These brands not only provide mobile and internet services but also serve as enablers of global digital transformation.'
Expanding
horizons
With around 2.6 billion people (about 32 per cent of the global population) still offline, the need for inclusive and meaningful connectivity has never been more urgent.
Al Shamsi stresses, 'Last year, e& international launched innovative solutions and undertook strategic expansions, reinforcing our commitment to bringing more people into the digital economy.'
By investing in 5G deployment in Egypt and expanding fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) infrastructure in Pakistan and Morocco, e& international is accelerating organic growth while advancing next-generation digital infrastructure. In addition, the groundwork for sustained growth was reinforced with key investments in 2024, including enhancing network power resilience in Egypt, modernising networks and IT infrastructure across its OpCos, and expanding coverage through new site rollouts and 4G upgrades, particularly in Pakistan, Egypt, and Afghanistan.
With a telecom footprint spanning 20 countries (including e& UAE), the company is future-proofing its operations through AI-powered automation, advanced machine learning, and enhanced customer analytics. These innovations have optimised network performance, anticipated demand patterns, and enhanced service delivery at scale.
At the same time, e& international is expanding its digital offerings with a focus on customer experience, accelerating the adoption of digital channels, and leveraging AI-driven solutions to enhance the overall customer journey and drive operational efficiencies by reducing response times and service call volumes.
This focus on enhancing digital experiences aligns with
e& international's broader strategy of expansion and investment in markets with stable currencies and well-established regulatory environments.
Building on this momentum, e& international's acquisition of a majority stake in PPF Telecom Group in October 2024 extended e& group's operational presence to 38 countries across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and now Europe.
'This expansion is not just about geographic growth — it's about accelerating digital transformation in these new markets,' explains Al Shamsi. 'By leveraging PPF Telecom's established presence, we are introducing cutting-edge digital products, enhancing both B2B and B2C offerings, and unlocking synergies across multiple dimensions.'
When it comes to rolling out next-gen networks and best-in-class digital services, AI and automation remain the bedrock for e& international's strategy across the markets it operates in, with over 50 AI use cases across seven key domains being prioritised for deployment in the next two years.
Meanwhile, the company's AI-powered customer value management system is delivering hyper-personalised offers, optimising pricing models and driving greater engagement.
On the technology front, e& international is introducing self-healing networks with AI-driven automation, proactive service management and predictive capacity planning — accelerating network excellence while reducing deployment costs by up to 30 per cent.
The company is also poised to meet the rising demand for digital transformation with its Partner Market Programme expanding into high-growth markets.
'So far, we've welcomed Tunisie Telecom in Tunisia, Azercell in Azerbaijan, and Perfectum in Uzbekistan, bringing the programme's reach to three countries with more in the pipeline,' says Al Shamsi.
While e& international is strengthening access to the digital economy, e& life, including its financial, entertainment and lifestyle services' verticals, is redefining the consumer experience across the region.
e& is pioneering
digital finance
e&'s extensive telecommunications infrastructure powered by 5G technology has provided a strong foundation for its expansion into digital financial services.
'Our advanced and extensive network infrastructure and customer touchpoints give us an unmatched advantage in the fintech space,' says Al Shamsi. 'With integrated payment gateways, secure digital platforms, and AI-powered financial insights, we are offering seamless, accessible, and customised financial services to millions.'
This advantage has proved successful with the company's fintech arm, e& money, showing consistent and remarkable growth. Expanding its reach into underbanked regions, the company's fintech solutions are bridging gaps in financial accessibility, ensuring that more individuals and businesses can participate in the digital economy with ease and security.
e& money, also the first digital wallet licensed by the Central Bank of UAE, has emerged as the leading financial super app in the region. 'In 2024, downloads grew by 1.6 times year-over-year, with monthly active users increasing by 2.5 times,' says Al Shamsi.
As the UAE's number one fintech app, it also outperformed incumbents across key metrics, more than tripling its gross transaction volume (GTV) and increasing remittance GTV by 3.2 times. Additionally, the number of cards issued reached 850,000.
Al Shamsi says: 'e& money's AI-powered self-KYC solution has revolutionised onboarding, reducing verification time from 30 days to just two minutes, while our real-time fraud detection system enhances transaction security.'
'Additionally, we've introduced a unique IBAN for every customer, backed by First Abu Dhabi Bank, bringing a banking-level experience to mobile finance,' Al Shamsi notes.
For traditional bank customers, it integrates seamlessly, while for financially underserved groups — such as domestic helpers and self-employed workers — it provides an IBAN with no fees or minimum balance requirements, ensuring secure digital transactions.
Partnerships have played an important role in supporting e&'s financial services across the region. In Egypt, e& Neo, launched in partnership with Mashreq Bank, introduced the country's first fully digital banking service, enhancing accessibility and security.
In the remittance space, partnerships with Mastercard and MoneyGram through e& money enhance digital accessibility, while collaborations with Wio Bank and Careem further streamline digital payments.
In 2024, Wio (in which e& holds a 25 per cent stake) continued its breakout success — already profitable and scaling fast. Deposits tripled, and revenue surged three times, reinforcing its leadership as the region's most dynamic neobank.
'e& money is also leveraging key partnerships with Mastercard, Samsung, Apple and Google to enable secure, contactless payments,' says Al Shamsi. 'These collaborations enhance convenience for UAE residents, allowing them to make seamless transactions online and in stores globally. By integrating flexible mobile payment solutions, we are making digital finance more accessible and intuitive.'
e& money is expanding its financial ecosystem with innovative wealth creation tools, making financial empowerment more accessible than ever. With a Finco licence application submitted, the company is set to introduce micro-loans, paving the way for broader lending solutions launching in 2025. Embedded finance services are set to debut in GoChat, with more integrations on the horizon, including partnerships with retailers and exchange houses. Additionally, e& money is democratising gold investing, offering new avenues for users to build and grow their wealth seamlessly.
'Leveraging state-of-the-art credit scoring, e& money will offer seamless microloan services, significantly expanding access to essential capital. Additionally, the launch of a secure and transparent digital wage protection system will ensure timely salary payments and enhance financial security and trust for both workers and employers,' Al Shamsi says.
Complementing these initiatives, Wio will keep enriching its breadth of wealth management and neo-banking services specifically designed for consumers and SMEs, with tailored services ranging from credit, savings, cards and crypto, leveraging on in-house and partner capabilities.
'Together, through advanced AI capabilities, strategic partnerships, and robust digital infrastructure, e& money and Wio will continue to drive meaningful financial inclusion across the region,' emphasises Al Shamsi.
In Egypt, digital revenue and monthly active wallets experienced remarkable growth, nearly doubling year-on-year. Building on this momentum, e& Cash launched international remittance, enabling seamless, instant wallet-to-wallet transfers across the globe. PTCL Group in Pakistan has launched several mobile financial service propositions, including the Upaisa Mastercard companion card, the nano-lending service UCash for quick and convenient access to small loans via the app, and instant direct wallet-to-wallet international remittance transfers.
Furthermore, the company is also committed to SME and microfinance initiatives across the region. In Egypt, its subsidiary Erada Microfinance is working in collaboration with UNDP to support women entrepreneurs and financial inclusion through developing accessible health insurance and green financing. Meanwhile, in Pakistan, U Microfinance Bank serves over five million depositors and 400,000 loan clients, with a strong focus on rural communities.
A customer-centric,
digital-first approach
Beyond fintech, customer centricity is echoed across e& life's successful entertainment arm, evision. The evolution of evision represents a major success in digital entertainment across the MENA region. As the region's largest content aggregator and provider, it has created a robust content ecosystem favoured by consumers.
Innovative offerings have been the mainstay of evision, which is a majority equity shareholder of STARZPLAY, a leading subscription video on demand (SVOD) and video streaming platform in the MENA region.
evision launched STARZ ON in 2023. Built in just three months, STARZ ON, an advertising video on demand (AVOD)/ SVOD platform, offers over 10,000 hours of free, high-quality content, along with 50 channels and exclusive programming.
Al Shamsi noted: 'Our AVOD strategy has unlocked massive monetisation opportunities, using data-driven advertising models for hyper-personalised engagement.'
In 2024, STARZ ON cemented its position among the GCC's top three streaming platforms, ranking alongside Shahid and Netflix and quickly becoming the most downloaded streaming service in the region, amassing over 5.9 million downloads in just 12 months.
AI-driven hyper-personalisation made STARZ ON the most downloaded SVOD/AVOD app in the GCC, dynamically curating content to keep audiences engaged.
Meanwhile, evision and STARZPLAY continued to expand their unique content library, sealing new exclusive partnerships with ICC Cricket, Disney+ Hotstar, and UFC which drove record-breaking engagement, making it the second most popular SVOD platform in MENA in 2024.
evision also recently launched Bloom, a bilingual (Arabic and English) educational channel catering to preschoolers. This move reflects e&'s commitment to fostering safe and enriching content for younger audiences. Looking ahead, evision aims to expand original content production, tapping into demand for locally relevant storytelling and exploring free ad-supported streaming television channels.
Al Shamsi says evision is set to expand into original content production, tapping into the growing demand for locally relevant narratives. By investing in regional storytelling, evision aims to foster a stronger connection with audiences while creating a pipeline of exclusive content.
Additionally, the company is exploring opportunities in free ad-supported streaming television channels, further reinforcing its commitment to making premium entertainment accessible to all.
e& international imbues the value of customer obsession across its operating companies. In terms of customer satisfaction, the proof is in the results with e& international achieving number one Net Promoter Scores (NPS) in Pakistan (Ufone), Saudi Arabia (Mobily) and Afghanistan (Etisalat Afghanistan).
A key example of this is the launch of the unified UPTCL app, designed to streamline services and elevate the customer experience in Pakistan. By integrating multiple functionalities into a single platform, the app improves accessibility, simplifies transactions, and reinforces e& international's commitment to seamless digital interactions.
To accelerate the company's progress in digital adjacencies, e& Egypt created a new entity, e& Fintech & Digital Lifestyle, which will oversee e& cash, banking services, insurance, and end-to-end financing. It will also drive the development of the company's digital ecosystem and lifestyle services, including e& Loyalty and its super app, while incorporating the digital entertainment platform, Twist, which offers TV, music and gaming.
Furthermore, the company also unveiled the e& Business branding and app, which introduces the innovative 'Business Pro' mobility package, seamlessly bundled with SaaS solutions, and offers a tailored customer buying journey for Egyptian SMEs. This initiative is further supported by a newly revamped, comprehensive B2B portal, enhancing the overall experience.
Revolutionising
digital lifestyle services
While evision and STARZPLAY are expanding e& life's leadership across the entertainment space, Careem Technologies has solidified its position as the region's leading Everything App, seamlessly integrating mobility, delivery, and financial services under one single, personalised app.
Careem Technologies, in which e& acquired a majority stake in 2023, features a multi-service model that drives deep platform engagement, with users who engage in four or more services generating 10 times the transaction value per month compared to single-service users.
In 2024, Careem Technologies more than doubled its revenues, achieving EBITDA profitability in Dubai. The Careem Plus membership also surged, driving deeper engagement across mobility, food delivery, and payments. Careem's AI-powered DineOut concierge has redefined dining, connecting users with top restaurants in real time.
'Careem's success is a testament to our commitment to innovation and customer-centricity,' says Al Shamsi. 'By integrating AI-driven efficiencies and expanding into new markets, we're redefining what a super app can achieve.'
Careem's AI-powered innovations, such as the AI-driven content creation tool have also automated 80 per cent of visual content production, cutting costs and doubling efficiency. AI-powered automation transformed efficiency with 85 per cent of marketing content generated via GenAI, cutting costs while accelerating impact.
Looking ahead, Careem is focusing on deepening platform engagement, expanding into Saudi Arabia, and enhancing cost efficiencies through AI-driven personalisation. 'Our goal is to ensure long-term profitability while delivering unparalleled value to our customers,' Al Shamsi emphasises.
Going for
more
As the company moves forward, e& life and e& international are making bold strides in AI, embedded finance, and next-generation telecom solutions. 'Our vision is clear — we are building a diversified, future-ready technology portfolio that goes beyond traditional telecommunications,' affirms Al Shamsi.
With connectivity as the cornerstone of its strategy, e& life and e& international are not merely keeping pace with the digital revolution — they are leading it. Through strategic acquisitions, forward-thinking investments, and a culture of relentless innovation, e& is shaping the blueprint for a smarter, more connected world.
'We are not just connecting people; we are empowering them to thrive in a digital economy that fosters prosperity, inclusion, and sustainable growth,' concludes the CEO, reflecting on the transformative journey ahead.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arabian Post
an hour ago
- Arabian Post
Afreximbank downgrade dispute raises questions on loan categorisation
African Union's African Peer Review Mechanism has challenged Fitch Ratings' downgrade of the African Export‑Import Bank, arguing the move rests on a misinterpretation of its sovereign loan portfolio. On 4 June, Fitch lowered Afreximbank's long‑term foreign‑currency issuer rating from BBB to BBB‑—a notch above junk—with a negative outlook. The agency attributed the downgrade to elevated credit risk, citing an estimated non‑performing loan ratio of 7.1 %, primarily due to sovereign exposures to Ghana, South Sudan and Zambia classified as NPLs. The APRM asserts that Fitch's classification is flawed and inconsistent with Afreximbank's own disclosure of an NPL ratio of 2.44 % as of end‑March. The AU‑established body emphasises the bank's status as a multilateral lender created under a 1993 treaty, which binds member governments—including Ghana and Zambia—as signatories, shareholders and founding members. APRM contends such loans are grounded in intergovernmental cooperation rather than standard commercial terms, so treating them as NPLs misrepresents their nature. Fitch defended its methodology, stating that its supranational rating decisions adhere to globally consistent and publicly available criteria, and highlighting that their analysis clearly identified rating drivers and sensitivities. The agency maintains sovereign exposures showing delayed repayments meet its threshold for classification as non‑performing, irrespective of legal structures or treaties. In that sense, the downgrade aligns with accepted analytical standards. ADVERTISEMENT APRM's critique zeroes in on that threshold. It argues that sovereign repayment negotiations are routine diplomatic engagements, not signs of default. It remains concerned that Fitch's decision conflates financial dialogue with credit impairment. The body has formally called on Fitch, Afreximbank and other African institutions to convene technical consultations and reassess the rating, emphasising the importance of contextually intelligent credit assessments. Beyond the immediate dispute, this episode resonates with a broader continental debate over the relevance and fairness of global credit‑rating frameworks applied to African multilaterals. Africa's longstanding concerns that Western rating methodologies fail to grasp local realities and may unfairly inflate borrowing costs have sparked momentum for alternative mechanisms. Among these, an Africa‑led credit‑rating agency is under development, envisaged to begin operations by September 2025, aimed at providing sovereign ratings that reflect regional economic and institutional contexts. Central to the debate is Afreximbank's evolving lending strategy. Under outgoing president Benedict Okey Oramah, the Cairo‑based lender has aggressively expanded its footprint, increasingly financing private sector projects across the continent and taking calculated sovereign exposure. Supporting growth in under‑served markets like Zimbabwe and Nigeria, the bank grew its asset base from around US$7 billion in 2015 to approximately US$40 billion in 2024, with deposits rising to US$37 billion. That growth has attracted scrutiny. Fitch has highlighted what it sees as elevated concentration of corporate and sovereign risk, pointing to an NPL ratio that exceeds its internal threshold. Observers note that up to 92 % of Afreximbank's lending is directed at commercial businesses, and certain sovereign loans carry interest rates as high as 6.875 % over benchmark rates—much higher than traditional development finance institutions. Proponents of the APRM's position, including lead credit‑ratings expert Misheck Mutize, argue that supplementary indicators such as capital adequacy, collateral density and profitability should carry mitigating weight. Mutize points to a strong equity ratio of 19 %, risk‑weighted capital at 21 %, internal capital generation through profits, and loan collateral cover for 84 % of the portfolio. These factors, he suggests, are downplayed in the rating downgrade despite being explicitly acknowledged in Fitch's own analytic framework. He warns that over‑reliance on contested NPL figures can breach the methodology's balance principles. ADVERTISEMENT Not everyone supports APRM's framing. Analysts note that countries like Zambia officially halted repayments to Afreximbank in 2021, and South Sudan failed to honour its obligations, prompting legal recourse in London. Zambia's treasury has openly stated its debt will be restructured. Against this backdrop, Fitch's interpretation that certain sovereign debt has become non‑performing appears defensible under global standards. This dispute underscores a tension: Afreximbank's assertive growth strategy has boosted its developmental reach and institutional clout, yet it must reconcile that dynamism with risk and transparency expectations imposed by global credit agencies. With Oramah set to step down later this month, the new president will face a pivotal choice: maintain aggressive expansion as the bank charts an independent path, or recalibrate operations to conform more closely with multilateral development bank norms—a course change that could preserve borrowing benefits but limit growth prerogatives. Beyond institutional implications, the outcome has broader financial consequences. A downgrade to BBB‑ tightens Afreximbank's borrowing costs, heightens the risk premium for countries swayed by its lending, and complicates its mission to finance intra‑continental trade. That may squeeze African exporters and traders relying on the bank's funding. Policy stakeholders are paying attention. The APRM's call for dialogue and transparency signals a pushback against the perceived hold of Western agencies over African financial destiny. Meanwhile, the African Development Bank is developing a Continental Financial Stability Mechanism that may borrow under a regional rating—another step towards financial sovereignty.


The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Dubai Metro Blue Line: Sheikh Mohammed hails 'architectural icon' station as work begins
Work is under way on Dubai Metro's Blue Line project, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced on Monday. He wrote on X that the foundation stone for the line's first station has been laid, adding that it represents an 'architectural icon'. Located in the Dubai Creek Harbour area, it will be called the Emaar Properties station and will be the highest metro station in the world at 74 metres. 'During the laying of the foundation stone for the first station on the Dubai Metro's Blue Line, which has a total benefit valued at Dh56 billion, the station represents an architectural icon that will be added to Dubai's cultural icons,' he said. 'It will be the first station on the Blue Line, which will extend 30km, bringing the total length of Dubai's railways to 131km and 78 stations.' He added that the Dubai Metro has transported more than 2.5 billion people since its launch, at an average of 900,000 per day, and that the new route will be a 'major addition' to the emirate's transport infrastructure. 'We continue to develop the city … we continue to build the best city to live in the world,' he concluded. What do we know about the Blue Line? The Blue Line is set to transform the north-east of the city, easing traffic congestion and establishing a direct link with Dubai International Airport. The Dh18 billion project will include 14 new stations and add 30km to the Metro network, with 15.5km underground. The expansion is part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which has easier commuting among its top priorities, to cater for a fast-growing population. Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority said the Blue Line would connect five principal urban regions of Dubai – Bur Dubai/Deira, Downtown/Business Bay, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Marina/JBR and Expo City Dubai. When completed, the Metro network will be 131km long and encompass 78 stations served by 168 trains. The number of Dubai Metro passengers is expected to exceed 300 million in 2026 and reach 320 million by 2031, Dubai Media Office reports. Where will it go? The new line will comprise two main routes that start with connections from the Red and Green Lines. The first route is to begin in Al Jaddaf at the Creek Interchange Station on the Green Line and will cross Dubai Creek on a 1.3km bridge. The route will pass through new stations at Dubai Festival City, Dubai Creek Harbour and Ras Al Khor, before reaching Dubai International City 1, which is an interchange station. The line continues towards Dubai International City 2 and 3 and on to Dubai Silicon Oasis, with the route ending at Academic City. This part of the line section is to span 21km and include 10 stations. The second route connects with the Red Line in Al Rashidiya at the Centrepoint interchange station. It will connect with new stations at Mirdif and Al Warqaa, before connecting with the interchange station at Dubai International City 1. The new line on this section is to be 9km and will include four stations. The travel time between these destinations is expected to be from 10 to 25 minutes. The project also includes the construction of a metro depot at Al Ruwayyah 3, beyond Academic City. The project is scheduled to be finished in 2029, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Dubai Metro. Dubai Metro Blue Line ceremony – in pictures


TECHx
4 hours ago
- TECHx
e& UAE Sets World Record with 600Mbps 5G Uplink Speed
Home » Smart Sectors » Telecom » e& UAE Sets World Record with 600Mbps 5G Uplink Speed e& UAE, the flagship telecom arm of e&, has announced a new world record for uplink speed on a live 5G network. The company reported achieving an uplink speed of 600Mbps, marking a milestone in the evolution of 5G-Advanced technology. This achievement was made possible by aggregating FR1 bands at 2100MHz and C-band. The network also used Uplink 3Tx, which includes three transmit antennas. The test was conducted using a commercial Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) at a live 5G site. According to e& UAE, the deployment is fully compliant with 3GPP Release 17 standards. This uplink speed supports the performance of uplink-heavy applications and sets a global benchmark for 5G excellence. Abdulrahman Al Humaidan, Vice President/Fixed Access Network at e& UAE, revealed that this breakthrough opens new opportunities for businesses and individuals. He added that it helps position the UAE as a global technology leader. This development is expected to benefit both enterprise and consumer use cases: Smart factories and logistics hubs can now upload large volumes of sensor data in real time. Cloud-hosted workflows like 3D modelling, AR, and VR will see improved speed and reliability. In addition, e& UAE stated that the new speed enhances live video analytics, real-time drone surveillance, and other critical data-driven applications. Content creators will be able to upload 8K videos and livestreams to platforms like YouTube and TikTok instantly. Gamers are also expected to benefit from low-latency, lag-free cloud gaming. Smart homes will upload high-definition footage and IoT data more efficiently. Other uplink-intensive tasks, like virtual event hosting and AR content creation, will be more seamless. The record is based on 3GPP Release 17 and incorporates features such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC). e& UAE reported that these capabilities support smarter, scalable, and energy-efficient networks. The company emphasized that this deployment reflects its ability to turn vision into reality. With optimized FR1 2100MHz and C-band combined with Uplink 3Tx, e& UAE is shaping the future of 5G connectivity. e& UAE confirmed that once such commercial CPEs become widely available, both consumers and enterprises will benefit from this innovative solution.