Page 79 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2023

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Ufone, out of which 1,754 (96.91 per cent) were resolved. The 85.8 per cent. Furthermore, 395 complaints were received against
PTA also received 141 complaints against basic telephony, out of ISPs, of which 367 (92.9 per cent) were addressed.
which, 121 were addressed during March, for a resolution rate of

Arab Advisors Group Releases an Analytical Report on MENA’s 5G Status

Arab Advisors Group released a new comprehensive analytical
telecommunication report. The report focuses on countries across
MENA with and without launched 5G services. Arab Advisors
Group shed the light on 5G network expansions and coverages, as
well as disclosed 5G-related indicators. As for countries without
5G launches, the report further examined the role of governmental
bodies in facilitating successful 5G launches in the Middle East
and North Africa, and 5G trials among telcos in preparation to-
wards their launches. 5G technology promises to bring a massive
enhancement for businesses and people, with a significant para-
digm shift in communications and technology. However, the 5G
promise is yet to be delivered. Governmental bodies play vital roles
in facilitating and catalyzing successful 5G launches - setting clear
5G roadmaps and strategies, and publicly disclosing adequate and
timely indicators to name a few. Roadmaps and strategies pres-
ent governments’ expectations for digitized and well-developed
ICT sectors, and highlight telecom operators’ part in supporting
their governments’ visions. The advancement of any ecosystem is
also strongly tied to publicly disclosed key performance indicators
(“KPIs”). Sources of similar indicators vary across the telecom in-
dustry; nevertheless, the most credible and expected source of in-
dicators is governmental bodies. Governmental bodies are not the
sole contributors towards successful 5G launches. Telecom oper-
ators play imperative part in pushing towards 5G launches through
network upgrades, expansions, and 5G trials. In alignment with its
summit launch, Arab Advisors Group released a new analytical
report which tackles prerequisite measures by telecom operators
and regulators to ensure successful 5G network launches across
the MENA region. Arab Advisors Group further discusses 5G net-
work coverages for MENA-based telecom operators, highlight-
ing a wide range of achievements in the GCC. Lastly, we present
5G-related KPIs released by telecom regulators and operators in
the Gulf. As part of its continuous reliable primary research-based
analysis, Arab Advisors Group released this report which answers
the following questions:
• How are MENA governmental bodies catalyzing smooth and
successful 5G launches?
• Do MENA’s telecom markets have adequate and timely disclosed
5G-related indicators?
• What preparation measures are telecom operators in the Arab Advisors Group’s Deputy General Manager noted. “The lack of an-
World taking towards their 5G launches? nouncements may not indicate a lack of trials but rather a lack of
• How intense are 5G trials in Arab countries without commercial public disclosure. Overall, the modest number of trials and their
5G services? low intensity suggest that more work is needed for operators to se-
• How did the GCC’s 5G markets differ during a span of 4 years in lect suitable solutions and understand network behavior in real-life
terms of coverages and expansions? situations.” Added Rabadi. “One noticeable advancement in the
According to our findings, about 30% of the telecom operators in GCC’s 5G networks is the transition towards standalone 5G (“5G
Arab countries without commercial 5G services announced 5G SA”). A few telecom operators across Kuwait, KSA, and the UAE
trials. The intensity of these trials is considered low, with Tunisia announced transitioning from non-standalone 5G networks to 5G
being the only country with sufficient 5G trial announcements SA ones, while others announced testing their 5G SA networks.”
between June 2019 and February 2023.” Ms. Hiba Rabadi, Arab noted Rabadi.
79 MAY-JUNE 2023