Page 16 - SAMENA Trends - October 2021

INTERVIEW SAMENA TRENDS

unique strategies. The level of knowledge Ensuring Customer Safety As a leading telecom
and experience the company possesses The strength of our 5G network enabled
within this field aided stc in its numerous stc to provide our individual and corporate and digital solutions
contributions to the local economy and customers with dependable and consistent provider, stc had fo-
government initiatives. high-speed connectivity that was crucial
at the time to fulfill their work, education, cused, prior to the pan-
As a leading telecom and digital solutions and leisure needs. The advanced upgrades demic, on strengthening
provider, stc had focused, prior to the applied to stc’s network also assisted
pandemic, on strengthening its 5G the company’s specialized business arm, its 5G infrastructure and
infrastructure and expanding its network solutions by stc, to expand its offering expanding its network
coverage to 98% of the populated areas line with new-to-market solutions that
in Kuwait. This progressive development required minimal deployment timelines. coverage to 98% of the
strategy allowed stc to manage the populated areas in Ku-
increased demand for 5G and connectivity Aside from the steps taken by stc to
products during the full and partial manage its network-based solutions, we wait.
lockdown periods, as we were ready and found it essential to provide our customers
have enabled different industries’ remote with complete control and access to culture. We were learning more and more
operations such as the health, educational, manage their accounts and enrich their about the virus once it emerged and how
and financial sectors. In early 2019, stc customer experience by upgrading our it disrupted our daily routines and lives.
was one of the leading telecom companies digital platforms. stc redefined the user Considering stc’s position as a pioneering
to commercially deploy a nationwide journey and experience on its website, digital solutions enabler, we recognized
5G network with over 1000 5G NR sites portals, and mobile application to permit the importance of utilizing our expertise
supported by a massive device ecosystem customers in taking full control of their stc to streamline our operations remotely and
of more than 100K devices including 5G accounts from the comfort of their homes, maintain the level of quality and service we
CPEs. This initiative set the benchmark an initiative that goes hand in hand with commit to our customers. The strategic
in the market, marking one of the largest the directions issued by the government steps stc took to preserve its competitive
5G commercial rollouts in the world at during the full and partial lockdown and empowering work culture were
that time through stc’s 5G innovation periods. To build on this initiative, stc essential in getting us to where we are
center. The 5G innovation strategy and its introduced special promotions and offers today. One of the main functions executed
execution aimed to open the doors to new that aimed at meeting the communication, by stc to maintain its communication and
business prospects within the realms of entertainment, and work needs of operation lines was implementing our
ultra-broadband, IoT, smart city services, customers, especially during the full and three-level business continuity plan.
all while positioning stc as the undisputed partial lockdown periods. Through its role
leader in the 5G era. as a market leader, stc strives to build a Business Continuity Planning
robust digital experience for its customers The highly detailed and tested continuity
Elevating the User Experience that is linked to the latest pioneering plan consisted of three scenarios, each
Due to the prolonged impact of the technology, while considering the latest categorized based on the conditions
pandemic, and in accordance with stc’s 5G economic and societal conditions. This the country was in. The first scenario,
development strategy, in 2020, we focused stems from stc’s commitment to support ‘Situation Under Control’, was primarily
on elevating the user experience for our the Kuwaiti community through various based on employees being present at
consumer and enterprise customers by initiatives and relief campaigns during stc’s Head office. They would have the
further enhancing our 5G coverage. stc times of need, in addition to providing ability to communicate and interact
started delivering Sub-3Ghz 2.1Ghz 5G a range of solutions that enable digital through routine communication channels,
NR with nationwide implementation by transformation in line with international while abiding to the defined controls
late 2020, focusing especially on indoor standards. during the period such as frequently
and weak coverage spots. Upon doing sanitizing hands, wearing a face mask and
so, stc was a pioneer telecom operator to Q. The pandemic led to drastic changes following restricted controls. The second
commercially launch such an advanced in the work culture of most organizations, scenario, ‘Social Distancing’, reflected
technology on a large scale in the MENA how did stc embrace these changes and work protocols during the partial curfew
Region. Following this development, stc how has that transformed your work period. The work from home procedures
also pioneered in launching the commercial culture? were initiated under this scenario with
E2E 5G SA network in the Middle East to A. The level of uncertainty the entire world limited access to stc’s headquarters and
provide high rise buildings with better was facing when the pandemic hit is a branches. Only employees performing
coverage, increasing uplink bandwidth crucial point to consider when looking critical tasks were able to be present at
and improving user-traffic latency for an at the response strategies implemented the headquarters. Under scenario three,
enhanced quality of experience. to manage and maintain a positive work ‘Lockdown’, where total lockdown was

16 OCTOBER 2021