Page 37 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Microsoft Pours $1B into Carbon-Curbing Tech

Microsoft committed to remove all of the into new technologies for reducing and company will continue investing in carbon
carbon generated in its history by 2050, and removing carbon from the environment. monitoring and modelling projects through
to invest $1 billion into a new climate fund “We understand that this is just a fraction its AI for Earth program. Smith described
to develop carbon reduction, capture and of the investment needed, but our hope the company’s plan to reduce its carbon
removal technologies. In a blog, President is that it spurs more governments and footprint as a “moonshot” for Microsoft.
Brad Smith outlined a set of goals to companies to invest in new ways as “And it will need to become a moonshot for
reduce the company’s carbon footprint, well”, Smith commented. He added the the world”, he stated.
including a pledge to become carbon
negative by 2030. As part of its program,
Smith said Microsoft will shift to 100 per
cent renewable energy in the next five
years. The company also vowed to reduce
its carbon emissions by more than half and
switch its global operations vehicle fleet to
electric by 2030. By 2050, Smith explained,
Microsoft plans to remove all the carbon
emitted since its foundation in 1975,
through negative emission technologies
potentially including forestation, removing
carbon from soil, bioenergy with carbon
capture and storage, and direct air
capture. From July, Microsoft will require
its business divisions to pay an internal
carbon fee for indirect emissions produced
from its supply and value chains. Over the
next four years, the company’s Climate
Innovation Fund will invest $1 billion

Mobily First to Test 5G Services over Standalone

Network in the Kingdom

Mobily made a major leap after the successful completion of the a 5G SA network does not rely on traditional 4G technology and
first 5G call made using 5G stand-alone (5G SA) network in the offers pure 5G network technology from handset to radio and to
Kingdom. Unlike all currently available 5G networks in the Kingdom, the core offering higher speeds along with ultra-low latency. Chief
Technology Officer at Mobily Eng. Alaa Malki said: “The trial took
place in Eastern region and showcased the immense potential
of 5G technologies, with the 5G SA smartphone achieving high
download and upload speeds along with the capabilities that
will help facilitate new digital applications for businesses and
individuals in the country. The latest trial was made possible by
recent Mobily network upgrades.” 5G SA architecture provides
immense throughputs and low latencies as well as enables
Mobily to target new markets including enterprise and industries
using flexible and distributed network architecture. Mobily’s
ongoing investments and trials in 5G technology are part of its
wider support of digital transformation in line with the Kingdom’s
Vision 2030, implementing cutting-edge technologies to enhance
industries and public services. With 5G services, Mobily customers
can expect faster download and upload speeds, lower latency and
enhanced security.

37 JANUARY 2020