In the presence of Mansour bin Zayed etisalat launches project to expand digital infrastructure within the UAE and abroad to increase international connectivity to more than 500 Tbps by 2030

Etisalat today launched a major strategic project to expand digital infrastructure capacity within the UAE and internationally, aiming to increase international connectivity to more than 500 terabits per second (Tbps) by 2030 — more than twenty-five times the operator's current international capacity. The launch was witnessed by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Etisalat group said the programme will build diverse, low-latency routes to improve efficiency, reliability and digital sovereignty while supporting accelerated AI adoption across public and private sectors.

"The UAE continues to invest in building advanced digital infrastructure, guided by its vision for the future and its belief that readiness for what comes next starts with having the enablers that support economic growth, accelerate innovation and strengthen the country's global competitiveness," His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan said. "AI is a central pillar in our development journey moving forward and developing our digital capabilities creates the ecosystem needed to harness its potential and ensure that every institution in this country, public and private, are empowered to build and innovate with AI, at the scale the coming decade will demand, with absolute confidence in the efficiency of the infrastructure beneath it."

Project details and strategic rationale

The project represents etisalat group’s first major commitment under its new strategy unveiled as part of the operator's 50th anniversary celebrations. The strategy is built around four business engines: telco, AI and business solutions, infrastructure, and fintech. Etisalat group operates across 38 countries and serves more than 250 million subscribers, providing the initiative with international reach well beyond the UAE.

• Target international connectivity: more than 500 Tbps by 2030 (up from roughly 20 Tbps today).
• Design priorities: diversified physical routes, low-latency architecture, enhanced resilience and flexibility.
• Strategic intent: support UAE AI campuses, global cloud providers, and etisalat's operations and customers across its markets.

His Excellency Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Chairman of etisalat group, framed the buildout as essential to not only adopting AI but governing and creating with it. "This project reflects our conviction that the UAE should not simply adopt AI, but govern it and build with it. That requires digital infrastructure at a scale that would prepare us for the future," he said. He added: "Moving international connectivity from 20 terabits per second to more than 500 is a strategic step to address the growing challenges facing global data processing and data flow, particularly given the tremendous advancements in AI, and enhances the flexibility and reliability of the infrastructure to meet the requirements of UAE's AI campuses, global cloud providers, and the group's operations and customers across its markets."

Context and national ambitions

His Highness, acting in his capacity as Chairman of the Emirates Investment Authority (EIA) — the main shareholder in etisalat group — was briefed on the group's expansion plans and future projects. UAE leadership framed the initiative as a foundational enabler for a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy and as part of the country’s ambition to contribute to the creation and development of advanced technologies rather than merely keeping pace with them. Etisalat positioned the project as a continuation of its half-century role building national infrastructure.

Outlook

Delivering over 500 Tbps of international connectivity by 2030 will require multiyear investment, route diversification and coordination with global cloud and AI infrastructure providers. Etisalat says the upgrade will keep the UAE’s access to the global digital economy "fast, direct and resilient," reinforce digital sovereignty and enable large-scale AI deployment across government and industry. As implementation proceeds, the market will watch for further technical disclosures, partner agreements and timelines detailing how the capacity increase will be phased into service.