Page 10 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

with the technological progress such as As a result, stc has increased the network’s customers and likewise doubled the data
5G and the requirements of improving the capacity to its maximum levels by capacity without any additional charges
network and increasing its speed. Also, the distributing traffic in accordance with the for its existing and new customers to
Saudi digital payments company (stcPay) increasing demand. It has also enhanced support the educational process and
obtained the official license from the Saudi the telecom services and their capacity, enable employees of government and
Arabia Agency (SAMA), as an electronic and provided urgent services to several private sectors to fulfil their work duties in
digital wallet in the field of financial entities to enable digital transformation for light of the precautionary measures taken
technology (fintech), to be the first all sectors. On another side, stc provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Part of its
financial technological company licensed 40,000 free internet SIM cards as part social responsibility, stc sent more than
in the kingdom. stcPay is considered of its “Attaa Digital” initiative to support 2 billion awareness COVID-19 messages
the largest financial digital wallet in the those who cannot access the Internet and in 10 different languages. Currently, we
Middle East and North African region with educational platforms as well as enabling are conducting a comprehensive study
2 million customers. Lastly, what we are a free access to some educational and on the potential effects on the company's
living nowadays under the unfortunate health platforms. Furthermore, recently stc business in the event that the Corona
conditions to combat the COVID-19 virus, has announced that it will bear the cost of pandemic continues, based on the
motivates us to continue our daily work the temporary service suspension fees for measures and decisions taken to combat
proactively by taking the necessary actions SMEs who wish to temporarily suspend it. Any expected impact after conducting
and decisions to provide all our capabilities their services as part of the company’s the study will be announced through the
to actively handle the situation and reaffirm efforts to mitigate the financial impacts official channels in due course.
stc’s position as a national operator and that may affect this vital sector. In addition,
the first enabler for digital transformation. stc extended the payment grace period for

SR 4 Billion to Support Local Content and Increased Telecommunications
Traffic During the Corona Pandemic

In line with the additional government that it will continue to nurture start-ups to enable digital transformation and enrich
initiatives package approved by the The and entrepreneurs through batches six the community in accordance with the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and seven of its inspireU program which Dare Strategy, stc supported a number of
King Salman bin Abdulaziz, to support will be announced in the coming days initiatives including the Hope Hackathon
institutions and individuals, Senior VP of as part of stc’s strategy to promote local initiative in cooperation with the Ministry
Corporate Affairs at stc’s Group, Abdullah content through its Rawafed program of Communications and Information
Abdulrahman Alkanhl, said that stc is which contributed SR 4 billion to promote Technology. The VP of Corporate Affairs
committed to continue extending its local content in the past years. Alkanhl said that the engagement included various
support to SMEs in the private sector to also nodded to stc’s initiative to exempt community segments including individuals
mitigate the impact on their bushiness SME’s that wish to temporarily suspend and the public and private sectors. Stc
during the Corona pandemic through stc’s services from the temporary suspension offered free access to education and
support package that is extension of the fees in line with the government’s direction health platforms and doubled the data
urgent initiatives previously announced by and to mitigate the financial burden that capacity for its existing and new prepaid
the government to support the economic could impact this vital sector in light of the quicknet customers without additional
activities most affected by this pandemic. current circumstances. Alkanhl said that cost, ensuring a quality experience for our
Alkanhl praised the package that supports stc is proud of its role in the success of the children in using such platforms which led
local content in companies which are 51% first virtual G20 summit in which it acted to a 1,000% increase in traffic for education
owned by the state in order to minimize as the digital enabler in partnership with platforms and 200% for health platforms.
the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the relevant government entities. stc sent The Company also offered 40 thousand
pandemic on economic activities and the over 2.5 billion messages in 10 languages free data sims to support the Attaa “Digital
private sector. Alkanhl reiterated stc’s to millions of citizens and residents to help Giving Initiative” and exempted customers
commitment to promote local content prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, and in quarantine from paying their April
and SMEs in order to stimulate the doubled the operational capacity in 22 bills. Alkanhl said that stc exempted its
economy in the local market and drive health centers as part of a SR 100 million customers in quarantine from paying their
demand to local products and services in community initiative that benefited about April bills and offered a 50% discount for
accordance with the Council of Ministers’ 5 million patients. In line with its constant fiber optics services to reduce the cost for
decision in this regard. Stc announced support for entrepreneurs and innovation the network users during this period.

10 APRIL 2020