During the GSMA’s Mobile 360 MENA 2024, held on November 18-19 in Doha, SAMENA Council’s CEO, Bocar BA, led a key fire-side chat and panel discussion session, drawing expert insights on super-bundling, monetization strategies in the 5G environment, smart-city projects, and unique opportunities that await to be harnessed through 5G and IoT. Bocar BA steered the conversation around key trends that are poised to shape the region's digital landscape. The session delved into the role of Telecom Operators and Technology Providers in creating and sustaining digital ecosystems that drive innovation and economic growth, with particular emphasis on digital services and technology applications in smart-city environments.
Titled, Smart Projects driven by Digital Innovations, the discussion session delved into how show Telecom Operators are evolving beyond traditional mobile plans to offer “super-bundles” — comprehensive packages that combine tens of services together, including internet access, entertainment, finance, content, and IoT, and other digital services of interest. Experts highlighted how this model is reshaping the telecom business, providing operators with new revenue streams while offering consumers greater value, thus boosting customer confidence and retention. The role of innovators, such as Bango, which enables content providers to reach more paying customers through global partnerships, having revolutionized the monetization of digital content and services through online payments, was clearly highlighted.
In addition to insights exchanged on Qatar’s broader goals of sustainability, efficiency, and economic diversification, the discussion focused on the collaboration between government agencies, telecom operators, and technology providers to deploy advanced infrastructure that supports smart city applications — from autonomous transport to intelligent energy grids and enhanced public services. A key point of discussion was the MENA region's unique position in terms of 5G and IoT deployment. Unlike other global markets, the MENA region, particularly the GCC region, is experiencing accelerated adoption of these technologies due to a combination of well-defined digital transformation visions, favorable regulatory frameworks, strategic government investments, and growing demand for high-speed, low-latency connectivity.
Panelists pointed out that MENA's young, tech-savvy population, along with the region's increasing focus on digital transformation, positions it as a prime market for innovation in 5G and IoT. The session highlighted specific opportunities in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and urban mobility, where 5G and IoT could radically improve efficiencies and create new economic opportunities, and where AI, cloud computing, and IoT will have a direct impact on the pace of the region’s digital transformation. Panelists shared insights on the importance of a holistic approach to innovation, stressing the need for businesses to integrate these technologies across their operations to drive efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and open up new business models.
After the successful discussion, Bocar BA stated: “Current times are critical as we launch new technologies, recalibrate approaches on how 5G, 5G-Advanced, Fixed 5G-Advanced, IoT, Cloud computing, AI, should be best deployed, and how their role in socio-economic and business transformation and both end-user level and enterprise-level expectations can be enhanced. Our goals are to increase productivity, reduce costs, generate capital, and redirect it where it is most needed. However, our larger goal, at least for the next few years remain our main target: meet the objectives set forth under the 17 Sustainable Development Goals despite numerous digital challenges and risks lurking all around us. It was a pleasure to steer this discussion on digital innovations, especially including super-bundling, and to re-align on service delivery choices, end-user expectations, and government enablement of innovations – all of which require collaboration between governments, private-sector players, and technology providers to create robust digital infrastructure, which will support innovation and create new opportunities.”