Page 23 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

keep on top of technological innovation on ‘Global connectivity: the data race of (DDoS) attacks, making carriers vulnerable
to compete in the region. Shafika Houcine, subsea carriers and big internet giants’, for attack; and analyzing physical security
Group Director – Digital Channels, Etisalat, focusing on how subsea cables are for critical assets. Meanwhile, Jose L
participated in a panel on ‘Capitalising on impacting the data center and ecosystems. Lopez Villen, Director of Open Innovation
AI: surviving the transition’. On the event’s Topics of discussion include the expected and IoT Partnership Programs, will
second day, Sidheeque Machingal, Senior opportunity of security services for present ‘Corporate and Startups: Models
Director of Carrier & Wholesale Planning, carriers; industry collaboration and the to Collaborate in the Open Innovation
Etisalat, will take part in a fireside chat next steps; preparing for denial-of-service System’.

Mobily’s Net Profit More Than Triples to SAR 537
Million In 9M 2020

Etihad Etisalat Co. (Mobily) reported a revenues, improved consumer revenues,
net profit after Zakat and tax of SAR 537 as well as the growth in FTTH active base
million for the first nine months of 2020, and wholesale revenues. Gross profit,
compared to a net profit of SAR 156 million EBITDA and operating profit also saw an
a year earlier, driven by a 5.82% year-on- increase, while financial charges dropped
year (YoY) rise in revenue to SAR 10.5 to SAR 434 million from SAR 635 million in
billion. Mobily’s nine-month results were the first nine months of 2019.
also driven by growth in business unit

Mobily Trials 5G Spectrum Sharing Technology in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabian telco, Mobily, has teamed up performance, and mobility. “With Ericsson to use its spectrum assets efficiently and
with Ericsson to trial 5G on 800/1800 MHz Spectrum Sharing, Mobily can improve 5G will drive 5G-wide coverage rollout quickly,
band using Ericsson Spectrum Sharing. mid-band coverage while maintaining the smoothly and cost efficiently,” said Ekow
The trial showed 5G capabilities in a real- 4G customer experience. Given that this Nelson, vice president at Ericsson Middle
world environment over a live network, is one of the strategic steps for Mobily East and Africa. The Ericsson Spectrum
including tests on speed and latency. toward 5G standalone deployment using Sharing solution will give Mobily a head-
Ericsson Spectrum Sharing allows both the same spectrum and radio assets start in expanding its 5G services, signaling
4G and 5G to be deployed in the same we utilize for 4G," said Eng. Alaa Malki, new opportunities, including in the areas of
band and on the same radio through a chief technology officer at Mobily. “The agriculture, smart cities and healthcare. It
software upgrade – instantly allocating successful 5G trial is an important step can rapidly enable the continuous coverage
spectrum between the two mobile in our strategy to continuously expand required, bringing the full advantage of
technologies based on user demand on a and modernize Mobily’s network. Ericsson network slicing and lower latency to power
one millisecond (ms) basis. The award- Spectrum Sharing is a unique innovation new business opportunities across a
winning solution will allow Mobily to that instantly shares spectrum between 4G multitude of industries in cities, on factory
efficiently manage 4G and 5G traffic in and 5G carriers based on traffic demand. floors, and roads across the Kingdom.
its network thereby enhancing coverage, This Ericsson innovation will enable Mobily

Mobily Expects COVID-19 Measures To Impact Telecom Sector By 2020-End

Etihad Etisalat Co. (Mobily) said in a 27, the company said the revenues of the network to reach 48 cities in the Kingdom.
bourse statement that the impact of business sector witnessed a growth during According to the data available on Argaam,
COVID-19 precautionary measures so the first nine months of 2020, in addition Mobily reported a net profit before Zakat
far on the telecom sector was limited, to the development of the subscriber mix, and tax of SAR 537 million in 9M 2020,
however, it is expected to be affected by and a rise in wholesale sales. The telecom compared to SAR 156 million in the same
end of this year. In a Q3 2020 financial provider added that it has expanded period last year.
results earnings conference call on Oct. the coverage of 5G communications

23 SEP-OCT 2020