Etisalat is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, and in connection with this, Khaleej Times turns to the history of the transformation of communication methods that has taken place in the country. The series 'Signals and Stories: 50 Years of Connected UAE' traces changes in communications over decades, starting from the first home landline phones up to the era of artificial intelligence and 5.5G.
Over the next two months, this history will be revealed on Khaleej Times platforms. Each section of the series is dedicated to a specific era of communication, utilizing archival materials, readers' memories, and everyday experiences. Rather than focusing solely on technological milestones, the series emphasizes the moments, habits, and memories that accompanied each new era of connectivity.
Khaleej Times expert, Ted Kemp, Chief Content Director, noted that 'the interconnectedness of this country—the network development of the UAE—is a story that exists on both a technological and a deeply personal level.' He added that thanks to extensive written and visual archives, Khaleej Times has a unique opportunity to tell this story, naming the project 'a labor of love and memory—for the nation, its people, and the times that defined us.'
Five Chapters of a Connected UAE
The series will consist of five consumer-focused chapters, each examining a different period of the UAE's development, from general home telephones to constant connectivity.
Memories of the Landline Phone
The first chapter returns to a time when one phone could serve the entire family. It will highlight memories of needing to memorize numbers, waiting by the phone during important calls, getting permission to use the device, and calling relatives in another emirate. Furthermore, it will explore the expansion of the early fixed-line network and the UAE's communication infrastructure.
Memories of the First Mobile Phone
When phones began leaving the house and entering people's hands, communication became more personal. The second chapter will cover the first phone models, initial numbers, the culture of prepaid services and balance top-ups, as well as the novelty of carrying a phone when it was a relatively new phenomenon. It will also show how mobile communication integrated into work, family, and social life.
Memories of the Modem
For the generation of early internet users, connecting to the network was accompanied by a characteristic sound. This chapter will revisit the sounds of dial-up tones, slow web page loading, the first email addresses, SMS culture, and the days when an internet connection could be interrupted due to phone usage. It will analyze the period when the internet began to transform from a rarity to a necessity in the UAE.
Memories of Wi-Fi That Changed Everything
The advent of home Wi-Fi, smartphones, and applications changed people's attitude towards the internet. Video calls allowed people to see distant relatives on screen, streaming transformed entertainment, and social media became an integral part of daily routines. This section explores the time when people stopped consciously 'going online' and simply started living in a state of constant connection.
The final chapter transports the narrative to the present while also looking into the future. It will examine the era when phones became a central element of payments, entertainment, services, and communication, followed by a look ahead—to 5.5G, cloud technologies, AI, robotics, autonomous technologies, and ultimately, 6G. It will also describe the broader evolution of Etisalat against the backdrop of the entire communications industry's transition into the AI era.
Collectively, these chapters tell a story that goes beyond the devices themselves. Fifty years later, technology has changed almost unrecognizable, but the reason people use it—to stay connected—has remained the same.