Page 8 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

COVID-19 VS TELECOM INDUSTRY SAMENA TRENDS

The current pandemic has universal connectivity. There is an urgency Despite the superiority of the broadband
to go beyond "business as usual" policies
Internet model, the role of mobile access
shown how it is imperative and select an approach focused on more will be significant in safeguarding the
for countries, telecoms, collaborative models based on resource Internet connections for users around the
globe. In 2023, the penetration of mobile
sharing and a holistic approach.
mobile providers and ISPs services will reach 112%. It means that
to put various measures in Mobile technology is the key enabler there will be over 8.9 billion users (SIM
place to ensure society's of many fundamental services, that cards). There is a promising future before
true mobile broadband technology. In the
many of us take for granted, that can be
functional connectivity and transformational for others. Nevertheless, near future, the role of 5G and current
access to the Internet mobile operators have limited reach to the undertaken efforts for fast expansion of
"unconnected". Connectivity is the global this technology will be crucial. 5G is not only
challenge requiring a global solution vital for Industry 4.0, further development
There are several factors that make it provided by the broad digital ecosystem, of IoT and autonomous vehicles but also
difficult for people to obtain access to the governments and NGOs agreeing to for the average person. IDATE analytics
Internet. These include: collaborate on the following four key areas: estimates that 5G connections will amount
• Poverty • network coverage, to 20% of all mobile connections in 2025
• High device, data, and • affordability, and the technology will generate nearly
telecommunications charges • digital skills, and 30% of the world telecom's revenues.
• Infrastructure barriers • locally relevant content.
• Digital literacy challenges
• Policy and operational barriers Organizations such as Facebook, Google Mobile technology is
and SpaceX are aiming to make internet the key enabler of many
The above challenges represent access universally ubiquitous.
a significant barrier to the widely fundamental services,
unconnected population of the world. Facebook’s Express Wi-Fi is aimed at that many of us take
providing affordable internet access to for granted, that can be
The Future of Broadband Access rural areas of developing markets through
The current pandemic has shown how it is partnerships with mobile operators and transformational for others.
imperative for countries, telecoms, mobile internet service providers (ISPs), while Nevertheless, mobile
providers and ISPs to put various measures Google Station works with partners to
in place to ensure society's functional provide free Wi-Fi connections at railroads, operators have limited
connectivity and access to the Internet. universities, and other public areas. reach to the "unconnected".
According to IDATE's 2023 forecasts, the SpaceX is also developing a low latency, Connectivity is the global
number of broadband subscribers will broadband internet system to meet the
amount to 1.52 billion users and fixed needs of consumers across the globe. challenge requiring a global
broadband internet traffic will reach 20%. Enabled by a constellation of low Earth- solution provided by the
Still a number which is not enough. orbit satellites, Starlink will provide fast,
reliable internet to populations with little broad digital ecosystem,
The State of Broadband 2019 report or no connectivity, including those in rural governments and NGOs
recommends an acceleration of communities and places where existing
broadband adoption and meaningful services are too expensive or unreliable. agreeing to collaborate...

8 MARCH 2020