Etisalat and Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a new collaboration at Mobile World Congress (MWC). The collaboration will enable a high-speed, responsive network, laying the foundation for next-generation infrastructure for m-government and smart city initiatives.

High-speed broadband connectivity is fundamentally changing the way people live, interact and do business; consumers expect access to information, entertainment and businesses with faster speeds. Through this partnership, Etisalat Group will launch trials of innovative Ericsson technologies such as LTE Broadcast, Ericsson Radio Dot System, and Ericsson's heterogeneous network solutions.

"Over the years, Etisalat Group has demonstrated its ability to build and sustain the most advanced and innovative networks," says Hatem Bamatraf, Chief Technology Officer at Etisalat Group. "Conducting such innovative trials is only the first step. This will pave the way for further collaborations and the eventual delivery of more advanced, reliable and faster broadband access to users across the region", he added.

Etisalat will jointly collaborate with Ericsson to roll out a mobile identity based service, and to explore opportunities for expanding these services across each of the countries Etisalat Group operates in. Mobile identity is a key foundation for m-government, m-commerce and m-health services. The service allows subscribers to use their mobile identity securely via a one-click sign in, giving access to diverse applications, government services and websites, without the risk of being data-mined by the various ID providers.

Together, Etisalat and Ericsson will support regional government initiatives with key enablers such as ubiquitous connectivity, citizen proximity (ensuring services are just one click away), ease of access (single sign on), and open platforms. The parties will work together to ensure that citizens have seamless access to services through the devices of their choice, without compromising on performance or user experience.

"Innovative experiences must be delivered to our customers anywhere. For that, we are always looking for the latest technologies that enable the most advanced customer experience. Enabling the Networked Society across our network will support m-government initiatives," said Khalifa Al Shamsi, the Chief Digital Services officer at Etisalat Group. "Over the years, partnerships with Ericsson have placed Etisalat at the forefront of deploying leading technologies, guiding us to enable the Networked Society".

"Our collaboration with Etisalat Group will help bring the reality of a Networked Society even closer to realization, as individuals across the region benefit from seamless connectivity," said Anders Lindblad, President of Ericsson Region Middle East. "It is collaborations such as these that will carry us forward into a more connected future, where technologies are deployed to build more robust, reliable networks to enable superior user experiences".