Page 33 - SAMENA Trends - October 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

in governments, the private sector, civil world is the one they are born into and live children by 2030 requires innovation and
society, non-governmental organizations, within every single day. The Internet and collective action. Broadband connectivity
and academia. Zain has been bold and its associated technologies are completely is a key enabler for children’s future, as
unapologetic in shedding light on topics integrated into the way they live their lives it ensures that all children have an equal
related to child abuse and the need to across a very broad spectrum of activities. opportunity to thrive, so that no child is
stamp it out, which can sometimes be Governments, academia, civil society left behind. It also plays a critical role as
considered a taboo topic in region. The and the private sector must invest in and an enabling component as well as helping
Internet has already transformed our lives accelerate the development of scalable fuel the achievement of all the Sustainable
at an unprecedented pace and scale. For solutions to address abuse and exploitation Development Goals.
children in developed countries, the digital of children online. Achieving the SDGs for

Zain Launches the Region’s Largest 5G Network

Zain Group announces that its operation in tourism, entertainment, automotive, health, opportunity for students and professionals
Saudi Arabia has launched 5G commercial education and public sectors, to name a in the artificial intelligence and virtual
services, with the first phase of the rollout few. The technology is also expected to reality disciplines, as well as opening up
being implemented through a network of contribute significantly to the country’s new fronts for advancing various Big Data
2,000 towers that cover an area of more economy, creating thousands of new jobs.” services in the Kingdom including IoT
than 20 cities in the Kingdom. This launch He continued, “Zain KSA will continue to and smart services such as self-driving
follows the launch of 5G services in Kuwait enhance its services and launch innovative vehicles and smart city grids. Additionally,
and is the largest 5G network deployment offerings that guarantee satisfaction for issuing electronic visas and other similar
in the region to date. It will be followed its 8.3 million customers. We are keen Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies
by a gradual expansion of the network to to offer 5G services to all business and including IoT and digital payments will be
cover a total of 26 Saudi cities utilizing individual clients through various service accessible through the upgraded network.
2,600 towers by the end of 2019. 5G is packages at competitive rates.” Al Kharafi Zain KSA is eager to support the Kingdom’s
regarded as a major global breakthrough concluded, “We remain committed to mega government initiatives and projects
in the field of digital technology, and invest further in infrastructure and develop that are the result of an ambitious Saudi
its implementation in Saudi Arabia is our services to be on par with global vision to position the Kingdom as a digital
expected to contribute towards realizing digital technology advancements and offer and innovation pioneer. In this context,
the digital transformation goals specified remarkable new services to support the Zain KSA has recently inaugurated its
in the Saudi Vision 2030. Zain KSA’s launch 5G network’s capabilities and coverage.” 5G network at the Neom Bay Airport, an
of 5G services will speed up the roll-out The 5G service will provide prepaid and area regarded as Saudi Arabia’s futuristic
of this advanced technology and its post-paid customers with high-speed gateway. The telecom provider also
applications, offering high-speed mobile internet connectivity 10 times faster than showcased some impressive technologies
internet connectivity to users across the the current 4G network. It will also allow the 5G network will enable during the
Kingdom. Commenting on this significant customers to utilize advanced digital inauguration ceremony of the Kingdom’s
milestone, Zain Vice Chairman & Group solutions and technologies, including new “welcome the world” tourist visa. Zain
CEO, & Zain KSA Vice Chairman, Bader virtual and augmented reality, Automated KSA benefits greatly from the expertise of
Al Kharafi said, “5G will bring substantial System Operations, 3D printing, and its parent company Zain Group, one of the
change for the Kingdom’s telecom robotics, in addition to enabling them most innovative telecom companies in the
industry, creating new business models to enjoy their preferred entertainment region. The Group supports Zain KSA to be
and unlocking opportunities for many content and video games with ease. 5G a leader in the sector and drive technology
sectors such as financial, ICT, agricultural, services will provide a great research innovation in the Kingdom forward.

33 OCTOBER 2019