Page 13 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

SAMENA COUNCIL ACTIVITY SAMENA TRENDS

To this effect, the discuss agenda of the Leaders' Summit was
highly relevant to global aspirations and globally agreed ICT
developmental goals, regional trends and transforming socio-
economic trends, innovations in technology, and shifting business
processes and models. The Summit also reflected on the role
of the Telecom Operators with decisive, timely, and resilient
measures taken to control the pandemic, and it was agreed that,
had 5G was already in place at the required scale, the response to
pandemic management would have certainly been different and
much stronger.

Keynotes from leaders emphasized industry issues that are more
societal in nature than business, but which are integral to the
industry dialogue, and to SDGs. Each of the speakers focused on a
unique perspective, including on the priorities for the next decade; Private & Public Sector Viewpoints on Collaboration and
child protection online; developing markets and their ambitions Connectivity Challenges
and challenges in digital transformation, among others. Queen • stc Group CEO and Chairman of SAMENA Council, Engr. Nasser
Silvia of Sweden's address, in particular, recognized the heroic Al-Nasser called upon ICT leaders to work closely together on
addressing present-day challenges, and to make full use of future
opportunities, while staying safe and remaining optimistic about
the future. Al-Nasser reiterated that the industry leaders need to
accelerate cooperation-building, which require unprecedented
level of mutual engagement, participation, collective wisdom, and
exchange of expertise.
• President of Huawei Middle East, Mr. Charles Yang, expressed
that advantages of 5G infrastructure are increasingly clear.
The outbreak has led to increased demand for ICT solutions to
complex socio-economic challenges. There exists a dire need
for meeting the increased demand for ICTs. New forms of public-
private partnerships based on open collaboration, supporting
strongly industry policies that enable social value-creation,
economic development, and enhanced service experiences to
consumers across the region, will be necessary to move forward.
• TRA-UAE's DG, H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, emphasized on
the significance of ICTs and that it has become clear that the most
prominent change affecting the people’s lifestyles, production
methods, management and daily life are supported by ICTs. While
pandemics are not new to the human race, it is the first time in
history that the telecommunications sector has become a critical
element in the fight for survival and sustainability.
• Public-sector leaders, concerned with national economic
development and security of the cyber world, delineated the need
to develop a roadmap for 5G introduction in the country and 5G
presents an excellent opportunity to telecom stakeholders to
support the national economy, as stated by Pakistan Telecom
Authority Chairman Maj. Gen. (r) Amir Azeem Bajwa. Likewise, Eng.
Majed Al Mazyed, Deputy Governor for International Cooperation
from Saudi Arabia's National Cybersecurity Authority, expressed
that WHO has reported multi-fold increase in cyber attacks, which
substantiate the urgency to secure the cyber world in which we
are connected today.
13 JUNE-JULY 2020