Page 18 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

SAMENA COUNCIL ACTIVITY SAMENA TRENDS

Experts Say Expanding 5G Will Boost Regional Economies

During COVID-19 Recovery

Telecommunications leaders and
experts from the region and across
the world gathered at the SAMENA
Telecommunication Council Leaders’
Summit 2020 on July 9th to review plans
for unleashing the potential of 5G networks
to boost economies and societies in
a post COVID-19 environment. This
year, the SAMENA Telecommunications
Council Leaders’ Summit welcomed
H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden, Founder
of World Childhood Foundation; H.E.
Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General of the
ITU; Mr. Mats Granryd, Director General
GSMA; Ms. Isabelle Mauro, Head of
Telecommunications at the World
Economic Forum in the USA; Mr. Mark
Spelman, Head of Thought Leadership at
the World Economic Forum in Switzerland; Middle East, North Africa, Asia, Europe, and a key priority moving forward. SAMENA
Dr. Boutheina Guermazi, Director - Digital beyond. Telecommunications Council Leaders’
Development at The World Bank Group Summit stressed on topics which are both
in the USA; Dr. Sanguchul Lee, Chief The Covid-19 pandemic has societal in nature and are equally essential
Advisor of LG Uplus and LG Group; and Mr. demonstrated the need to strengthen to industry dialogue. Attending speakers
Kamarul A. Muhamed, Founder & Group digital infrastructure to better prepare shed light on the impacts of collaborative
CEO of Aerodyne Group. Summit attendees societies for future crises and to make efforts when deploying technology in the
also included senior executives from systems more resilient and sustainable, Middle East region to overcome digital
telecommunications service providers, guaranteeing a better and more effective transformation challenges.
local regulatory authorities, global NGOs, outcome. A shift to cloud, IoT, and better
and other ICT industry professionals integration of AI into the public health The Summit explored how ICT stakeholders
representing decision makers for different response was also spotlighted, in addition can work together with industry verticals to
verticals and government entities in to harnessing of other technologies for turn their vision into reality at the local and
countries from across South Asia, the smart service delivery, which should be regional level. Participants reviewed 5G
ecosystem cooperation in the Middle East,
and how 5G paired with complementary
technologies such as cloud, AI, and AIdriven
autonomous and BVLOS commercial drone
applications, can inspire new vertical
industry applications. Today that ranges
from improving SME competitiveness to
the digitization of oil & gas operations in
the Middle East and globally, all of which
boost economic potential by enhancing
industrial processes and productivity.

With more economies becoming digital
today, the Summit also explored business
resilience strategies in a hyper-connected
world. Mr. Andy Purdy, Chief Security Officer
for Huawei USA, was one of the experts
leading the discussion on what regulatory
frameworks will be needed to help vertical
industries as well as governments to

18 JUNE-JULY 2020