Dubai, 23 Jauary 2020 – SAMENA Telecommunications Council, represented by its CEO Bocar A. Ba and Chief Economist and Director for Sector Development Imme Philbeck discussed key private sector priorities regarding the need for new and innovative approaches to funding and investment of broadband networks to overcome the connectivity challenge together with high-level government leaders and representatives, regulators, international organizations and leading industry Chief Executive Officers at the UN Broadband Commission’s Special Session on the sidelines of the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The BBCom/WEF joint session, which brought together the Broadband Commission and the World Economic Forum communities to examine and identify new financing models for societal impact and engage multiple stakeholders in the digital landscape, was held for the 6th time on 21 January 2020 and agreed that efforts are needed to lower the cost of broadband, as well as innovative policies to finance the rollout of broadband infrastructure to unconnected populations. Collaboration among and contribution by diverse stakeholders were highlighted as key to making universal and meaningful connectivity a reality for all.
The Session included three breakout groups to examine in detail issues concerning (1) Financing for sustainability and social impact, (2) Public Private Partnerships for Sustainability and (3) Inclusive Meaningful Connectivity for a safe digital future, of which the first group was led by Bocar Ba. Participants highlighted that existing financing, funding and investment models no longer support connecting meaningfully the 4.4 billion offline population by 2030, requiring new approaches and solutions to be found. To this end, a new BBCom Working Group to be co-chaired by Bocar Ba of SAMENA Council and Scott Gegenheimer of Zain Group on new 21st Century Financing Models for Sustainable Broadband Development, that will kick-off its work imminently, has been established. This group will study and identify options for consideration to foster innovative funding, financing and investment strategies, which can enable and empower different digital stakeholders to achieve the Commission’s targets for broadband connectivity and adoption.
About SAMENA Telecommunications Council
SAMENA Telecommunications Council is South Asia - Middle East - North Africa (SAMENA) region’s premier industry association of telecom operators and service providers. SAMENA Council voices network operators’ issues and needs to regulators, policymakers, and international institutions. The most renowned regional telecom operators, including Saudi Telecom, Etisalat, Batelco Group, du, Viva Kuwait, Orange - MEA, Zain Group, Telecom Egypt, Sudatel, Omantel, and Alfa (managed by Orascom TMT), among other leading operators and technology companies, are a part of the Council’s membership. SAMENA Council is a sector development partner to the private and the public sectors, and empowers stakeholders to communicate together and addressing the most pressing industry issues, in order to help create a sustainable business environment for the industry, and to accelerate digital development in regional economies.
As an international non-profit organization, SAMENA Council is contributing to the understanding of cross-stakeholder priorities within the public and the private sectors. The Council has created a unique regional position as the regulatory reach and operator advocacy organization, promoting institution-level engagements with leading private and public-sector organizations.
SAMENA Council was founded in 2006. In February 2018 in Barcelona, Saudi Telecom Company, represented by Eng. Nasser Al Nasser as its GCEO, was re-elected to chair the Board of Directors of SAMENA Council.
Source: SAMENA Press Release