Page 54 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

to the same infrastructure. As L4S is an into a self-managing, interactive operating minimizing travel and waste, resulting
ecosystem play requiring support from system that will break down barriers that in efficient production, minimized errors
both the application and the network, the have traditionally prevented network and a lighter environmental footprint.”
collaboration between Nokia and Hololight elements from interoperating. Philipp Koen De Schepper, Network Automation
is a critical step towards ensuring L4S Landgraf, Senior Director XR Streaming, Research Principal, Nokia Bell Labs, said:
implementations are properly optimized Hololight, said: "Partnering with Nokia “It’s important to grow the ecosystem
for key use cases like XR. L4S, which puts us at the forefront of 6G innovation. and show what the L4S protocol can
stands for low-latency, low-loss, scalable Together, we are excited to pioneer a bring to communications, in particular, to
throughput, was originally pioneered by solution that enables smooth and stable 5G-Advanced systems and beyond. With
Nokia Bell Labs to support the large-scale streaming of XR applications with a high its advanced XR applications, Hololight
rollout of real-time applications. L4S will number of active users, even in the most will help us explore the user experience
be crucial in 5G-Advanced, and Nokia is challenging environments, ensuring for future applications and what these
driving L4S standardization efforts in 3GPP an unparalleled user experience. The applications and future networks will need
Release 18. L4S is also a key component move to XR-based collaboration and to support.”
of UNEXT, a new Nokia Bell Labs research digital prototyping is a monumental step
initiative that will transform the network towards reducing CO2 emissions by

Rakiza Fund acquires a 39% stake in ITHCA’s
Oman Broadband

Oman infrastructure Fund “Rakiza” art technologies.” He added that “Our added that “This acquisition by Rakiza
signed an agreement to acquire a 39% broadband journey began in 2014, during will strengthen our collaboration with our
stake in Oman Broadband Company (the which, we accomplished notable positive partners and contribute to the enrichment
government's arm in the development of results, with non-government backed of Oman Broadband Company’s initiatives.
broadband infrastructure in the Sultanate commercial funding solutions.” “Oman This, in turn, facilitate increased
of Oman) from Ithca Group.The agreement Broadband Company has also succeeded investment and support for startups in
was signed by Engineer Said bin Abdullah in building a strong infrastructure base the ICT sector. This partnership will play
Al Mandhari, CEO of ITHCA Group, and which serves as a shared resource for a significant role in fostering growth in
chairman of Oman Broadband Company, all licensed telecom operators in the Oman’s economy and its Gross Domestic
and Muneer bin Ali Al Muneeri, CEO of Oman Sultanate. This harmonizes efforts to Product, and bolstering the Group’s
Infrastructure Investment Management expand the network and avoid overbuilding financial position, and expanding its
“Rakiza”. In response to the agreement of telecommunications infrastructure investments portfolio, ultimately creating
signing, Engineer Said Al Mandhari, CEO across the Sultanate. These achievements job opportunities for Omani youth and job
of ITHCA Group stated that: “This marks a complement various initiatives undertaken seekers alike.” Muneer bin Ali al Muneeri,
significant achievement in the Group’s plan by the Group to nurture and empower Omani CEO of Oman Infrastructure Investment
to divest certain assets utilize the resulting talents through several programs such as Management “Rakiza”, added: "We are
capital gains in advancing state-of-the- the “Tamkeen program.” Al Mandhari also pleased to complete our investment in the
Oman Broadband Company in partnership
with ITHCA Group. We remain committed
to achieving the Sultanate’s National
Broadband Strategy and facilitating growth
in fiber networks across the Sultanate.
“This marks a significant step in realizing
the Sultanate's vision of establishing
a world-class digital communication
network throughout the nation. Notably,
this investment marks s Rakiza’s fourth
acquisition in key infrastructure sectors
in Oman. Engineer Sultan bin Ahmed Al
Wahaibi, CEO of the Oman Broadband
Company also commented on this
agreement saying: “The partnership
with an institutional investor of Rakiza’s

54 OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023