Page 66 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Saudi Arabia Aims to Become a Top 20 Digital Powerhouse By 2030

Bassam Al-Bassam, deputy Minister the private sector in digital infrastructure mobile operators, vendors, and vertical
for telecom and digital infrastructure at initiatives, which has led to the delivery industry partners to leverage, innovate,
Saudi Ministry of Communications and of new capabilities and the country’s and overcome the challenges of the 5G
Information Technology (MCIT), reiterated exceptional response to unforeseen commercialization. Participating in the
Saudi Arabia’s objective to become a network demand. Al-Bassam further event alongside GSMA Director General
top 20 digital powerhouse by 2030. The noted that in recent years, Saudi Arabia Mats Granryd, GTI Chairman Craig Ehrlich,
Kingdom seeks to achieve its objective by has become among the top five countries Huawei Chairman of the Board Liang Hua,
working with industry players to develop globally in terms of 5G performance, a and other senior-level industry leaders,
and adopt more 5G and IoT use cases leading G20 nation regarding spectrum Al-Bassam discussed the impact of
in new verticals in the Kingdom such as allocation, while recent investments have COVID-19 in the development of digital
the education, health, and oil and gas led to 45 percent country-wide coverage of infrastructure, and the necessity for
sectors, he said. The first partnership 5G. The GTI Summit 2021, themed “5G in increasing investment to leverage ICT
of developing dedicated networks was the Moment’” gathered global information as a means to rebuild economies with
signed with Aramco, STC and Huawei last and communications technology (ICT) the potential to surpass pre-pandemic
month with a plan to extend this further experts to discuss opportunities for productivity levels.
in the near future. Al-Bassam made the
remarks as he delivered the opening note
of the GTI Summit 2021, part of Mobile
World Congress Shanghai 2021, early
this week. Al-Bassam highlighted how
countries that have better-developed
digital infrastructure have been better able
to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic
and build a path toward a more resilient
future. In particular, the deputy minister
noted how growing Saudi Arabia’s digital
economy and becoming a leading digital
society is at the heart of Vision 2030. He
stressed that this digital transformation
was wisely addressed early on as the
core enabler for realizing Vision 2030,
citing how Saudi Arabia has invested
more than $15 billion in partnership with

Free Internet Service Under RTDF Reaches 31 Districts Across Nepal

Under the Rural Telecommunication Rukum. Similarly, WorldLink and TechMinds requested to be informed within 15 days
Development Fund (RTDF), Nepal Network have installed broadband in Dolpa, if any municipality, village municipality,
Telecommunication Authority (NTA) has Jumla, Humla, Mugu, Dailekh, Surkhet, ward office, community secondary school
completed installation of free internet Salyan, Manang, Mustang, Baglung, and community health institution/ center/
service in 31 districts so far. Internet has Myagdi, Panchthar, Bhojpur, Dhankuta, hospital in the above districts have been
been installed at around 1,000 public Tehrathum and Khotang. Under this exempted from internet connection. "The
places. Issuing a notice, the authority facility, municipalities, rural municipalities, service recipients whose two-year period
has published the work progress so ward offices, community schools and is about to expire are requested to contact
far. According to the authority, Vianet community health institutions of the select concerned service provider and continue
Communication and WorldLink have districts will receive free internet services the service at the rate approved by this
installed broadband network in 15 for next two years. Thereafter, the service- authority," reads the notice. Aiming at
districts. The 15 districts are Taplejung, seekers will have to pay certain amount set supporting the government's Digital Nepal
Sankhuwasabha, Solukhumbu, Achham, by the NTA. NTA's RTDF has been funding campaign, NTA started this project in 2019
Bajhang, Bajura, Baitadi, Dadheldhura, the internet expansion project in all rural in association with the internet service
Darchula, Doti, Jajarkot, Kalikot, and Rolpa, areas of the country. The project is being providers.
including Eastern Rukum and Western implemented in 18 packages. NTA has also

66 FEB-MAR 2021