Page 65 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

TRA Bahrain Attends UAE 5G Conference

The Telecommunications Regulatory “We see more and more use cases for event, Sh. Nasser stated that “Conferences
Authority of the Kingdom of Bahrain (TRA 5G every day that justify the need for its like these are a vital opportunity to share
Bahrain) attended a key conference in the existence on both network and service knowledge and experience in the realm
UAE centered on 5G, where Acting General levels. Autonomous vehicles, smart grids, of 5G with our counterparts in the UAE,
Director of TRA Bahrain, Shaikh Nasser autonomous farming, Internet of Things. as well as our counterparts in the rest of
bin Mohamed Al Khalifa gave a keynote The applications are endless, and the the GCC and experts from all around the
speech on the importance of collaboration world is exploring them as we speak, at a world. It’s important to note that 5G is
in order to realize the full potential of rapid pace, I might add. With such powerful less about smartphones and more about
5G, and exploring use cases that apply network capacity and speed, we have a the many devices and applications that
to the GCC and Arab region. The event duty to explore use cases that are relevant smartphones will be connected to. The
was organized by TRA UAE, in Dubai and to us here in the region.” Said Shaikh internet is entering into an age where we
attended by experts and business leaders. Nasser in his speech. Commenting on the will see it come to life in the real world.
If the opportunity is capitalized on by all
stakeholders, and we all work together
towards that goal, the world we know
will change within a few short years.
Bahrain can plant the seeds now to reap
the benefits of that future.” TRA started
its experience with the 5G technology in
Bahrain with the allocation of 300MHz of
spectrum in the C-band, divided equally
among mobile network operators. 5G
commercial services launched in July this
year, which led to witnessing a surge in
peak download speeds more than 15 times
faster than 4G.

Mobile Technologies and Services Adding $191bn a Year of Economic Value
to Middle East and North Africa

The GSMA released two new reports at the forecast to reach more than $220 billion million IoT connections in MENA by the
annual ‘GSMA Mobile 360 – MENA’ event as countries increasingly benefit from end of 2019, rising to 1.1 billion by 2025.
happening in Dubai. These reports highlight the improvements in productivity and The deployment of IoT across MENA is
the positive economic impact of the mobile efficiency brought about by the increased expected to add $18 billion to regional GDP
ecosystem on markets across the Middle uptake of mobile services, and 5G and IoT by 2025. “Backed by proactive government
East and North Africa (MENA) region, as networks are widely deployed. To date 12 support, mobile operators, particularly
well as the transformative impact of IoT operators have launched commercial 5G in the GCC Arab States, have speedily
technologies on regional governments’ services in five Gulf Cooperation Council deployed 5G technology,” said Mats
strategic national visions. The two reports (GCC) Arab States. Mobile operators in Granryd, Director General of the GSMA.
from GSMA Intelligence – ‘The Mobile these countries are aiming to be global “Beyond the GCC, the wider MENA region
Economy: Middle East and North Africa leaders in 5G deployments, supporting the has an opportunity to benefit from the
2019’ and ‘Realizing the potential of IoT digital transformation ambitions outlined technological developments delivered by
in MENA’ reveal that mobile technologies in strategic national visions such as 5G and IoT. To fully embrace those benefits
and services added $191 billion to the UAE Vision 2021 and Saudi Vision 2030. the region’s governments must support
region’s economy in 2018 – equivalent Meanwhile, IoT connections in the MENA regulatory frameworks and policies that
to about 4.5 per cent of regional GDP. By region are growing at a rate second only to ensure 5G flourishes, including making
2023, mobile’s economic contribution is Asia-Pacific. There are forecast to be 470 sufficient spectrum available.”

65 NOVEMBER 2019