Page 28 - SAMENA Trends - October 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Zain Acknowledged with Three Awards at the
SAMENA Council Endorsed MEA Business

Achievement Awards

led to its recognition as the New Technology Leadership award
recipient. An early adopter of 5G, in May 2019, Zain announced its
5G network in Kuwait was fully ready for the commercial launch of
services. In October that year, Zain Saudi Arabia launched the largest
5G network in the region at the time, and third largest in the world.
Later in November 2019, Zain announced another regional 5G first
as its operations in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia successfully launched
5G roaming across the MENA region, with download speeds reaching
as high as 500 Mbps for both outbound and inbound roaming. This
milestone 5G roaming agreement opened up countless opportunities
to further enhance the mobile experience for Zain customers.
Zain Esports collaboration award Zain was awarded the Innovative
Collaborations and Partnerships prize for its Zain Esports
collaboration with YaLLa Esports and other entities in the region’s
ecosystem such as Playhera in KSA and AlHub in Kuwait. Zain
Zain Group, a leading mobile telecom innovator in seven mar- eSports was launched in December 2020, marking the beginning of
kets across the Middle East and Africa, announces it has been a year-long calendar of large and exciting regional online esports
presented with three awards at the prestigious SAMENA Coun- tournaments comprised of multiple flagship events as well as
cil endorsed MEA Business Magazine Technology Achievement smaller, regular community tournaments with attractive cash and
Awards 2021, in the categories of New Technology Leadership devices prize pools. Zain Esports is inspired by the competitive spirit
for 5G launches in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia; Innovation Collab- of the 18,000 professional and amateur gamers who have played in
orations and Partnerships for the launch of Zain Esports; and the various tournaments held so far and the enormous social media
Ground-breaking Products and Services for the ground-break- following that have been garnered, which exceeds 35 million views on
ing Fintech solution ‘Tamam’ in Saudi Arabia. The awards Zain’s YouTube, Twitch and other social media channels.
presentation that took place during GITEX 2021 in Dubai by Zain Esports’ presence as a gaming powerhouse engaging with the
leading regional business publication MEA Business in co- gamers and youth across the region, is creating an ecosystem that
ordination with SAMENA Council, were part of a multi-sector reduces reliance on traditional telco services and opens up growing
recognition awards program aimed at highlighting significant opportunities for fast growing and lucrative digital services and
technology achievements in the ICT industry. SAMENA Tele- online gaming.
communications Council is a tri-regional, non-profit telecom- Tamam’s ground-breaking Fintech award in Saudi Arabia With respect
munications association that embodies a community of South to ground-breaking Products and Services, Zain was awarded this
Asian and MENA region telecoms operators, manufacturers, prize for its Tamam financial technology (fintech) company in Saudi
regulatory authorities, and academia. The Council is driven by Arabia, which provides consumer micro-lending services. The Fintech
telecoms issues that operators face, determined in providing was established in 2019 with the goal to increase financial inclusion
its advocacy expertise to help aid the incubation of novel ap- in the Kingdom in line with the Financial Sector Development Plan,
proaches and ideas that would provide better means for the part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Taman offers individuals requiring
expansion and utilization of telecommunications in the region. financing the opportunity to immediately avail an Islamic Shari'a
Commenting on the three awards, Nawaf AlGharabally, Zain compliant loan without physically visiting a bank location. The end
Group Chief Technology Officer said, “Innovation is at the core to-end Shari'a approved process takes minutes from the time a client
of all Zain’s efforts, seeking new business areas in line with its downloads the app to the loan amount being advanced. It should be
‘4Sight’ strategy and becoming a full digital services provider. noted that Tamam was the first entity in the Kingdom and the region
These prestigious Awards recognize our efforts in areas that to be licensed by a regulator to offer consumer micro-loans via a
are extremely important to our ongoing growth and success.” fully digital and seamless customer experience, through a mobile
AlGharabally continued, “We are strong proponents of the pow- app. Fintech is a key focus in Zain Group's ‘4Sight’ strategy aiming
er of partnerships and collaboration, believing that working to be the first telco-led challenger bank capitalizing on its regional
with like-minded organizations accelerates the achievement footprint, technology, trusted and highly valued brand, 50 million
of our combined vision, and provides our customers with the customer base, with the ultimate aim to provide mobile customers
best quality of service possible in a rapid time-frame. We shall with additional and much needed digital financial services while
endeavor to continue operating at the highest levels of effi- increasing value for all stakeholders. Zain views the opportunities
ciency, while delivering the best offerings and results to all our presented by the digital economy in the Middle East as brimming
stakeholders.” with potential, as digital capabilities offer greater levels of innovation
5G Technology Award in Kuwait and KSA Zain’s pioneering 5G and direct positive impact on economic and social development of
deployments in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and later Bahrain the communities it faithfully serves.

28 OCTOBER 2021