The SAMENA Council highlighted the transformative potential of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) as a central component of the region’s digital future and a strong complement to fiber. As the demand for high-speed, flexible, and scalable connectivity grows across South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa (SA-ME-NA), the SAMENA Council positioned FWA as a crucial enabler of intelligent connectivity, capable of bridging the digital divide and supporting economic growth through broadband access and creating opportunities for innovation, such as in CPE design.
In a keynote, delivered during the 5th meeting of the ELITE FWA Club, which is directly supported by the SAMENA Council along with various members of the Council, including Huawei, CEO of the SAMENA Council, Bocar BA, who also serves as the honorary president of the Club, outlined how FWA has evolved from an emerging technology into a foundational infrastructure solution, which can truly leverage 5G-Advanced and AI synergy. The Council emphasized that FWA is no longer limited to providing basic broadband. Rather, it is a driver of intelligent, high-performance networks (for example, visual-data networks) that offer faster speeds, greater reliability, and broader coverage and intelligence, enabling operators to meet the increasing demands of consumers, businesses, and governments.
“As we see in the markets of the UAE and Kuwait, FWA is evolving rapidly, with operators leveraging 5G-Advanced and AI to deliver faster, more efficient, and more flexible services,” said BA. “FWA represents more than just a technology; it’s a key enabler of digital transformation, opening new avenues for innovation and growth. The SAMENA Council is committed to supporting the expansion of FWA by promoting collaboration among regulators, operators, technology providers, and the ELITE FWA Club members, to ensure its widespread adoption.”
The SAMENA Council emphasized that GITEX Global 2025 served as an important platform for discussing FWA’s potential and its role in shaping the telecom landscape within the SA-ME-NA and, increasingly, in the Central Asia regions. By bringing together key stakeholders from across the tech ecosystem, the 5th meeting of the Club provided an opportunity to highlight latest developments in FWA, such as FWA 3.0, ubiquitous High-bandwidth Broadband, implementation of 5G Technology in Mongolia, and user experience and evolution in Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE.
The Council also recognized the need for continued public-private collaboration to unlock FWA’s full potential. It called for targeted public support to accelerate deployment, particularly in underserved regions where market returns are limited. This support could take the form of regulatory incentives, funding mechanisms such as Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for digital infrastructure, and the creation of anchor-client agreements with public institutions such as schools and health centers to strengthen commercial use cases.
“Governments must play an active role in de-risking FWA investment, particularly in areas with lower commercial viability,” said the SAMENA Council CEO. “In such regions, partnerships between the public and private sectors will be essential to drive deployment and ensure equitable access to high-speed connectivity for all.”
The SAMENA Council concluded by reaffirming its commitment to advancing the FWA agenda through its strategic initiatives, including the ELITE FWA Club, and by encouraging deeper engagement between industry players, regulators, and technology providers. The Council also recognized and presented “Excellence” shields to key stakeholders from the operator, technology, and regulatory domains that have made strong progress in enabling FWA deployment.
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Source: SAMENA Council Press release
