Page 3 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

EDITORIAL SAMENA TRENDS

Evolving Technology, Collaboration, and Revenue Landscape

The past two months have vividly shown and other factors, now the focus is very
that digitalization is now in fast gear, and much on sustainability. In fact, this is so
that advancements across four key fronts much so that almost every aspect of the
are truly driving the future of the ICT industry Industry, ranging from operations to power
and those that depend on it. consumption, from customer experience to
Given digitalization is made possible spectrum allocation, is being assessed from
fundamentally by connectivity, there four key the sustainability perspective. Our evolution
breakthroughs that we need to account for toward 5G and advancements taking place
when assessing the pace of digitalization: in 5G toward 5G-Advanced and, by 2030,
to 6G, are to be credited for creating this
Regulatory adaptation: Various regulators, focus on sustainability. Again, various
with which SAMENA Council is closely Members of SAMENA Council, including stc,
engaged, are attaining the G5 Regulation Zain, e&, Omantel, Mobily, Nokia, Huawei,
classification. NTRA Egypt is the most to name a few outstanding examples, are
recent one in the SA-ME-NA region to be helping to build sustainable technologies
recognized in this regard. Earlier, it was CST and approaches as well as technologies for Bocar A. BA
Chief Executive Officer
Saudi Arabia. sustainability. Moreover, SAMENA Council, & Board Member
in alignment with its Members, and other SAMENA Telecommunications
Technology evolution: 5G Advanced or 5.5G industry players, has been highlighting the Council
is now a reality. 5.5G represents a milestone need for greening ICTs in the region, with
on the path to a smarter, better-connected latest such effort scheduled to be made
world. 5.5G will truly help accelerate IoT, during COP28. These evolving dynamics -- when
and as I mentioned during MBBF 2023, it combined with rising cybersecurity
would help us meet the challenge of the Uniting against digital divides: SAMENA requirement, as recently discussed
connecting the unconnected. To add, with Council, in collaboration with leading global at GCF 2023, or as what the Internet
ITU framework being put in place for 6G and stakeholder and regional bodies, is fast Society is aiming to achieve in global
may surface during WRC-23, we can rest moving toward developing and implementing routing security through the MANRS
assured that 3D technology and metaverse a universal broadband funding framework, initiative – are making tremendous
revolution is right on the horizon. The efforts aimed to unlock new capital for funding impact on how digital future is being
of SAMENA Council's Members, especially connectivity, with pilot implementation to created, and how digital progress would
Huawei and Nokia, which are doing extensive prospectively start from Africa. This is so, be made over the next 6 years.
work to help Operators make the most of 5G because Africa represents the greatest
investments and optimize 5G infrastructure portion of the world’s population still-not- We can look forward to a great digital
to deliver exceptional use-cases. catered to by broadband connectivity. As future ahead. However, some fronts
digital technologies evolve, we risk creating require extensive collaboration,
Strategy evolution: Where up until recent even more divides if basic connectivity at innovative planning, and sustained
years, our Industry was focused on reasonable network quality is not brought to momentum in achieving new
optimizing network performance only, and those still-unconnected. milestones.
sometimes at the cost of environment

3 OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023