Ericsson and e& Forge Partnership to Propel UAE’s Private 5G Revolution

At GITEX 2025 in Dubai, Ericsson and e& took the stage to seal a Memorandum of Understanding that could redefine enterprise connectivity across the UAE. The deal centres on deploying Ericsson’s Private 5G solution—essentially, a high-performance network built for business-critical operations. It’s tailored for industries that can’t afford lag or downtime, offering fast, secure connections with all enterprise data staying safely on site. Handy, really, for businesses wary of sending sensitive info floating through public networks.

The partnership blends Ericsson’s long-standing network know-how with e&’s wide reach and tech ambition. Together, they’re planning to unlock new industrial use cases—smarter factories, more agile logistics, that sort of thing—while giving UAE businesses a leg-up in digital transformation. As someone who’s spent a fair bit of time speaking with founders across the MENA region, I’ve seen how reliable connectivity (or the lack of it) can make or break a startup’s scaling plans. So, this move feels spot on.

Marwan Bin Shakar, Acting CTIO at e&, described the partnership as a way to “empower enterprises with scalable and high-performing connectivity,” laying the groundwork for the UAE’s march toward a fully tech-driven economy. Petra Schirren, President of Ericsson Gulf, made a similar point, saying the collaboration is about “transforming enterprise connectivity” and helping businesses innovate through advanced private networks.

Now, Ericsson and e& aren’t exactly strangers—they’ve rolled out major telecom developments together in the past, from 4G to 5G networks across the Emirates. This latest step pushes that partnership further into enterprise territory. I reckon it’s not just another MoU for the photo ops at GITEX; it’s a signal that both companies are serious about monetising 5G through practical, industry-focused solutions, not just buzzwords.

What’s interesting here is the ripple effect. If more enterprises start tapping into private 5G, we’ll likely see startups in AI, IoT, and automation jump at the chance to build services around it. That’s where Arageek’s own interest lies—seeing how innovation trickles from infrastructure to young ventures. After all, better networks often mean fewer barriers to experimentation… and that can transform how regional entrepreneurs dream up solutions.

On the flip side, I’m not a fan of how “private 5G” sometimes gets hyped as a silver bullet. It’s powerful, sure, but deploying and managing these networks can still be a bit of a faff for smaller firms. Yet, if e& and Ericsson really can make it plug-and-play, it might finally lower that barrier.

Both firms framed the deal as part of a broader vision for a knowledge-based, connected economy in the UAE—a theme that’s becoming something of a refrain at events like GITEX. As collaborations go, this one looks solid, and it definately hints at a tighter weave between telecom giants and the region’s digitising industries. Whether it delivers the full promise of private 5G, well… time will tell.

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