Page 14 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

SAMENA COUNCIL ACTIVITY SAMENA TRENDS

"SAMENA Accelerator" on Fiber Deployment on November 19th Aims to
Ignite a New Wave of ICT Infrastructure Expansion in the Region

and fulfillment of bandwidth demands posed by emerging
digital communications technologies in countries with low Fiber
penetration. SAMENA Council had drawn attention to the need for
developing Fiber-based networks in the region, acknowledging
that Optical Fiber has played a vital role in making possible the
remarkable growth in global communications over the last 25
years. For the coming decades, Fiber will again be instrumental in
delivering innovation in many sectors that now increasingly rely
on ICTs and collaborate with telecom operators, supporting new
technologies. Fiber will make ultra-fast broadband and 5G, IoT
and advanced smart technologies possible, and will be necessary
for achieving the Digital Inclusion and Global Digital Connectivity
SAMENA Telecommunications Council, in collaboration with imperatives.
Huawei Technologies Middle East, a long-active Member of
the Council, is holding its 1st SAMENA Accelerator series of Earlier in SEPTEMBER this year, during the ITU Global Cyberdrill,
policy roundtables with the Public and Private sector industry held as a part of the regional dialogue for the Arab region on
stakeholders on November 19th, centered on Fiber Deployment. lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, SAMENA Council
The 2nd SAMENA Accelerator will be held on November 25th, had drawn attention to the significant potential in the latest
focused on accelerating the SA-ME-NA region's Digital Economy digital technologies to transform communication and create new
value for private-sector and public-sector entities alike. Enabled
IN OCTOBER, at the Ultra-Broadband by broadband, which requires future-proofing with increased
proliferation of Fiber-based networks, the digital services
Forum (UBBF) 2020, SAMENA Council, ecosystem is also in need of cybersecurity measures as well
represented by Bocar BA, had built on as increased IP address space. To this effect, the Council had
the recommendations already issued emphasized on the need to transition from IPv4 to IPv6 and IPv6+.
to UN Member States by the ITU, the Accelerated digital transformation requires an overall vision where

private sector, and by the UN Broadband technology, including Fiber-optic connectivity, along with human
resources, improves efficiency and effectiveness of business. In
Commission alike... the 5G, this can only be achieved with a new internet protocol.
As IPv4 exhaustion becomes more and more imminent, network
Bocar BA, CEO and Board Member of SAMENA Council, has operators across the globe are taking a closer look at transitioning
stated that "We are thrilled to receive confirmations of keynote to IPv6. Being the successor of IPV4, IPV6 will not only offer
speeches and participation from key industry stakeholders across far more address space and thus further catalyze the Internet
the leading developing economies of the SA-ME-NA region, and Economy, but will greatly resolve network bottlenecks caused by
thus look forward to a very good, outcome-oriented discussion on the soaring number of Internet-connected devices while allowing
November 19th and November 25th.” for further stimulation of digital innovation across industries
and how those industries elevate the end-user experience in the
BA further stated that "Digital transformation, enabled by mobility, digital era.
cloud and broadband technologies, including Fiber-optic, is Earlier in SEPTEMBER this year, during
taking place in almost every industry and is reinforcing the need
for us to re-think ICT infrastructure development. Many countries the ITU Global Cyberdrill, held as a
in the region now have well-defined national ICT visions and plans part of the regional dialogue for the
are being implemented to infuse ICTs across the board into each
dimension of the national economy. These visions are already Arab region on lessons learned from
proving that countries that take ICT policy measures soon than the COVID-19 pandemic, SAMENA
later, secure for themselves and their citizens a better future."
Council had drawn attention... future-
IN OCTOBER, at the Ultra-Broadband Forum (UBBF) 2020, proofing with increased proliferation of
SAMENA Council, represented by Bocar BA, had built on the Fiber-based networks...and emphasized
recommendations already issued to UN Member States by the
ITU, the private sector, and by the UN Broadband Commission on the need to transition from IPv4 to IPv6
alike, highlighting the Fiber networks' positive economic impact and IPv6+.

14 SEP-OCT 2020