Sam Jacobs, Editor-in-Chief of TIME, (L) moderates a panel titled Can we innovate our way to a more connected world? with panelists Margherita Della Valle, CEO of Vodafone, Mickey Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten Group, and Hatem Dowidar, CEO of e&.Courtesy of the World Governments SummitBy Ayesha JavedFebruary 12, 2025 5:53 PM ESTImproving connectivity can both benefit those who most need it most and boost the businesses that provide the service. Thats the case telecom industry leaders made during a panel on Feb. 11 at the World Governments Summit in Dubai.Titled Can we innovate our way to a more connected world?, the panel was hosted by TIMEs Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs. During the course of the conversation, Margherita Della Valle, CEO of U.K.-based multinational telecom company Vodafone Group, said, For society today, connectivity is essential. We are moving from the old divide in the world between the haves and the have-nots towards a new divide, which is between those who have access to connectivity and those who don't.The International Telecommunications Union, a United Nations agency, says that around 2.6 billion peoplea third of the global populationdont have access to the internet. Della Valle noted that of those unconnected people, 300 million live in remote areas that are too far from any form of connectivity infrastructure to get online. Satellites can help to bridge the gap, says Della Valle, whose company plans to launch its commercial direct-to-smartphone satellite service later this year in Europe.While digital access is a social issue, companies dont need to choose between what is best for consumers and whats best for business, Hatem Dowidar, group CEO of UAE-based telecom company e&, formerly known as Etisalat Group, said. At the end of the day," he said, "in our telecom part of the business, when we connect people, [theyre] customers for us, it makes revenue, and we can build on it. He noted that part of e&s evolution toward becoming a tech company has involved enabling customers to access fintech, cybersecurity, and cloud computing services.Mickey Mikitani, CEO of Japanese technology conglomerate Rakuten Group, advocated for a radical transformation of the telecommunications industry, calling the existing telecoms business model obsolete and old. Removing barriers to entry to the telecom sector, like the cost of accessing a wireless spectrumthe range of electromagnetic frequencies used to transmit wireless communicationsmay benefit customers and society more broadly, he said.The panelists also discussed how artificial intelligence can improve connectivity, as well as the role of networks in supporting the technologys use. Mikitani noted that his company has been using AI to help it manage networks efficiently with a fraction of the staff its competitors have. Della Valle added, AI will need strong networks, emphasizing that countries where networks have not received sufficient investment may struggle to support the technology.Dowidar called on attendees at the summit from governments around the world to have a dialogue with industry leaders about legislation and regulations in order to overcome the current and potential challenges. Some of those hurdles include ensuring data sovereignty and security within borders, and enabling better training of AI in languages beyond English, he noted. It's very important for everyone to understand the potential that can be unleashed by technology, Dowidar said, emphasizing the need to train workforces. AI is going to change the world.More Must-Reads from TIMEInside Elon Musks War on WashingtonIntroducing the 2025 ClosersColman Domingo Leads With Radical LoveWhy, Exactly, Is Alcohol So Bad for You?The Motivational Trick That Makes You Exercise Harder11 New Books to Read in FebruaryHow to Get Better at Doing Things AloneColumn: Trumps Trans Military Ban Betrays Our TroopsWrite to Ayesha Javed at ayesha.javed@time.com