Page 4 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2023

EDITORIAL SAMENA TRENDS

Sustainable Connectivity and Emerging Ecosystems

in Digital Economy

Over the past decade, the global digital sustainability of the digital ecosystems we
economy has evolved tremendously, with create and their direct impact on the overall
explosive growth in digital services and socio-economic progress of developing
technologies. This has enabled businesses countries.
and consumers to take advantage of digital
technologies in a variety of ways, which The Telecom/ICT Industry, as it evolves, with
is now positively impacting every major discussions already in place to explore the
economic sector in any given emerging or evolution of 5G and paradigm shifts that need
developing market. to be catalyzed by Operators as well as other
players in the evolving digital ecosystems, is
To support the growth of digital economies creating new opportunities and setting new
in developing markets, there needs to be benchmarks in our aspirations to achieve
a reliable and secure ICT infrastructure in sustainable connectivity throughout the
place – that is the most fundamental pre- globe and expand the digital economy and
requisite for achieving any milestones in its benefits for all.
digitalization and digital transformation. Bocar A. BA
Chief Executive Officer
This includes reliable broadband and mobile The evolution of the Industry toward & Board Member
internet access, secure data storage and betterment, that is sustainable digital SAMENA Telecommunications
data protection protocols, and resilience future, across all fronts, requires creating a Council
in communications capabilities and sustainable ICT environment as the enabler
infrastructure. Additionally, there should be of sustainable digital transformation and ICT
access to cloud computing services as well development, which is both a challenge as human-centric, digitally-powered, and
as resources for businesses, governments, well as an opportunity area and has direct be mindful of the needs of the next
and citizens to access the digital economy. impact on the sustainability of the planet’s generations and the environment.
Then, there needs to be an understanding of health and the environment we live in.
the potential risks and benefits associated Advancing a truly, inclusive, sustainable
with the digital economy for all stakeholders. We have numerous imperatives to work on, digital economy is a necessity and
But let us not forget that infrastructure is new approaches to devise, for example, in requires accelerated digitalization,
just one major aspect of digital economy: building digital trust, and difficult challenges sustainable connectivity (of which
Other aspects are capacity-building, ease to overcome with respect to unlocking investment and enabling environment
of participation, digital inclusion, digital access to new capital. For all collaborations is an ongoing requirement), and digital
tolerance, digital trust, and a sustainability and intra and inter-industry initiatives to value-creation. However, we need to
mindset. yield good outcomes for socio-economic ensure equitable benefits accrue to
transformation and service delivery, all, and thus digital value-creation
As the digital economy continues to evolve, adequate underlying ICT infrastructure is should be accompanied by policies
one of the biggest challenges in building crucial, well-supported by Telecom Operators and processes that promote a fair and
sustainable digital ecosystems in developing and financially sustainable to absorb and equitable distribution of resources.
markets, is not related to technology or lack maintain all future energy efficiency and
thereof, but to having sufficient capital and sustainability needs. All of this requires strong multi-
investment, overcoming human capacity stakeholder involvement and
challenges, and effectively translating It is important to recognize how digital collaboration, and SAMENA Council is
benefits—whether the digital ecosystem is solutions and ICT infrastructure can help privileged to help foster both of these
for public benefit or private. Moreover, with the world, including the least developed key objectives by welcoming industry
industry-wide focus now positioning toward countries, in achieving digital-economy leaders to the next SAMENA Council
more human-centric internet, meaningful goals as well as in realizing green, low- Leaders’ Summit 2023.
digital inclusion, and creating a secure cyber carbon and high-productivity based
space, it is important to be mindful of the economic transformation, which should be

4 MARCH-APRIL 2023