Page 17 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2022

FEATURED SAMENA TRENDS

software components from different I consider eight issues to be absolutely critical for ensuring
vendors. Thanks to open and interoperable sustainability in the digital ecosystem. These are: making
interfaces, to be made possible with open
standards and open architectures, multi- spectrum available with effective regulatory enablement
vendor implementation is possible on practices; addressing the region's spectrum interference issues,
a single site, which is a step forward in particularly in the coastal areas of the Arabian Peninsula;
going beyond today’s multi-vendor RAN
deployment in different sites. adopting a region-wide optical network strategy and overcoming
procedural challenges in the laying of fiber; reducing high industry
From the perspective of architecture fees and taxation on Operators by taking into consideration
design, OpenRAN appears to leave international practices and new "collaborative regulation
complexity to Telecom Operators, and
for it to be deployed in the region, extra models" that foster inclusive stakeholder participation; and
investment in fiber-to-the site will be creating a level-playing field for all digital communication
essential, resulting in higher costs for service providers, and certainly not at the expense of incumbent
Operators and that too in an environment Operators, so that the Operator community continues to
in which revenues have been shrinking
whereas customer expectations have contribute to the development of ICT infrastructure.
risen, and where there already exist other
priorities. Such disruptions and their earth sciences and digital technologies Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) on
impact on operations and management are and space exploration. If we place this having publicly launched the World Space
complex, and need to be openly discussed in the specific context of connectivity, Sustainability Association (WSSA); an
in an objective setting. SAMENA Council we realize that the global goal of initiative that could play a very relevant
is ever ready to provide such objective digitally connecting the entire planet in a role in this region, starting with the UAE, to
settings and platforms. sustainable and investment-conducive build such synergies.
manner remains a challenge, especially
Q. Lately, there has been an emerging since over 36% of the world’s population Q. What are some of the priority business
interest in Space. Could terrestrial ICT still remains unconnected or offline due to issues for the Industry?
players synergies with satellite/space lack of connectivity infrastructure. A. I consider eight issues to be absolutely
players in a productive manner? critical for ensuring sustainability in the
A. Where current times are presenting Given the magnitude of connecting digital ecosystem. These are: making
new challenges and opportunities not everyone, and in times when revenue- spectrum available with effective regulatory
witnessed or perceived earlier, we are degradation and numerous other enablement practices; addressing the
seeing greater synergies emerge between challenges confront the Telecom industry, region's spectrum interference issues,
new infrastructure funding and financing particularly in the coastal areas of the
models are being proposed, and it would be Arabian Peninsula; adopting a region-wide
Given the magnitude of necessary to foster collaboration among optical network strategy and overcoming
connecting everyone, and the communications service providers that procedural challenges in the laying of
in times when revenue- are operating at the surface of the planet fiber; reducing high industry fees and
taxation on Operators by taking into
and those that are operating in space.
degradation and numerous consideration international practices and
other challenges confront Thus, I consider new synergies emerging new "collaborative regulation models" that
the Telecom industry, new between the thriving digital economy foster inclusive stakeholder participation;
infrastructure funding and and the emerging space economy. With and creating a level-playing field for all
space exploration catching pace and
digital communication service providers,
financing models are being stakeholders drawing focus on the need and certainly not at the expense of
proposed, and it would to address sustainability not only at the incumbent Operators, so that the Operator
be necessary to foster surface of the Earth but also in space community continues to contribute to the
collaboration among the (which, for the reference of your readers, development of ICT infrastructure. Times
includes managing satellite launches,
are calling for shared responsibilities, and
communications service rocket fuel, orbital slots, space debris this has been one of the recommendations
providers that are operating management, etc.), it would be interesting in the SAMENA Council – chaired work
at the surface of the planet to see how collaboration can be built done at the Broadband Commission’s
and those that are operating between terrestrial and space players in working group on 21st century funding and
financing models.
this era of 5G. Here I take the opportunity to
in space. extend congratulations to the Mohammed

17 MARCH-APRIL 2022