Page 53 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

this year's symposium. Chen hoped that progress. Only then can we commit to commitment comes at a time when the
the next generation of leaders would the sustainable and trustworthy use overall spending on information and
build trust and shape a world of pervasive of technology," she concluded. Chen’s communication technology (ICT) in the
connectivity. "I urge them to continue comments echo the company’s recent Middle East, Turkey, and Africa region is
developing the positive relationships reaffirmation and commitment to expected to make a comeback, returning to
between communities, individuals, supporting digital transformation across positive growth of over USD209.5 billion in
and their environments. We must build the Middle East by building stronger 2021 after contracting last year, according
strong trust in technology, enabled by a cybersecurity mitigation programs with to projections from IDC
common set of rules, innovations, and local partners and governments. That

Huawei: 5G Will Underpin Economic Growth Across MENA

Fifth generation mobile network the future digital economic growth in the FIFA World Cup 2022, will benefit greatly
technology (5G) will act as catalyst for Middle East. The number of 5G users has from investments in digital infrastructure
economic development across the Middle exceeded two million in just 19 months, like 5G. Growth-oriented, future-looking
East and North Africa region, according twice as fast as 4G,” Yang added. “Many 5G policies, including the sustainable
to industry experts who gathered virtually new smart cities have started to emerge spectrum, fiber-to-site strategies, must
at the SAMENA Leaders’ Summit 2021. in the Middle East, such as NEOM in Saudi be in place to drive investment and enable
Held under the theme of ‘Championing Arabia. Such developments, alongside digital economic growth.”
Digital Economic Growth from Policy to mega-events such as Expo 2020 and the
Reality’, attendees exchanged insights
about current technology, industrial, and
economic development opportunities.
“As we enter the post-pandemic era, the
economic recovery of the Middle East
is the major target of today. At the same
time, ICT is now recognized as the new
engine of recovery and development, and
together with our customers and partners
will light up the future of the Middle East
through technology innovations,” said
Charles Yang, President of Huawei Middle
East. “In particular, 5G is now a key
enabler of the region’s digital economy.
The technology is already playing a vital
role for consumer and industrial markets
proving its business and social value for

Huawei Announces 6G Satellite Launch in China

Chinese technology giant Huawei is a national space firm, which has no details on base stations to transmit signals, 6G
planning to launch two satellites with unveiled, has great significance for China's networks, conveying higher frequencies,
two Chinese partners in July this year, core technologies such as networking and need using satellite for communications
which will focus on verifying 6G network switching, " said a digital blogger named instead of base stations where there will be
technologies that are currently under Chang'an Shumajun. As Huawei works on low penetrability, Ma explained. Huawei's
research and development. According its 6G network layouts, it is to be noted rotating chairman Xu Zhijun announced
to Global Times, which is associated that this technology is nearly 50 times at Huawei global analysts conference held
with the Communist Party of China’s faster and advanced in comparison to the earlier this month that the Chinese tech
official publication, the People’s Daily, 5G technology the global tech companies giant will launch its 6G networks in 2030,
said the satellites would test 6G network are trying to harness at this very moment. and it will release a 6G white paper soon to
technologies. Details of this launch have The satellite move is natural as Huawei explain to the industry what 6G is. During
not been released so far as the company is pushes ahead its layout on 6G networks, a global 6G summit in 2019, Huawei had
currently focused on the core technologies which is 50 times faster than 5G, Ma Jihua, proposed its vision to launch more than
such as networking and switching. "The a senior tech industry analyst based in 10,000 small satellites to provide 6G
satellite launch, with the cooperation of Beijing, said Global Times. Compared with services covering the world.
Chinese network operator China Mobile and the construction of 5G networks that rely

53 APRIL-MAY 2021