Page 54 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

the region are aiming to accelerate their tasks. Saudi Arabia is forecast to spend voices to share knowledge and insight on
existing digital transformation efforts the highest on enterprise IT in the GCC the rapidly evolving outsourcing landscape
to meet customer and business needs, region this year, at $5.8 billion, followed by and will be hosting another digital panel
whereas only 23 percent plan to slow down the UAE with $5.3 billion. Dubai Outsource discussion soon.
or stall these initiatives to focus on core IT City regularly brings together key industry

Bahrain to Boost the Digital Economy

Bahrain is well on track to upgrade the telecommunications sector as
part of its goal to further develop the country’s digital economy. During
AN s online weekly Cabinet meeting, chaired by His Royal Highness
Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme
Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, the Fifth National
Telecommunications Plan, which outlines the government’s general
policies and strategies regarding the telecommunications sector during
the next three years. The plan includes completing the development of
the national broadband network, extending its coverage to all homes
and in situations at fair and reasonable prices, achieving full equality in
the provision of services and enhancing the role of Bnet in developing
infrastructure for optical fibers. It further aims to enhance competition
within the mobile telecommunications sector, spectrum and fifth
generation, and to provide international connectivity to and from Bah-
rain, as well as to further develop the Kingdom’s digital economy. HRH HRH the Crown Prince chairs the weekly Cabinet meeting
the Crown Prince issued directives to ministers and government agencies
to expedite their responses to questions and requests received from enhancing the role of Bnet in developing infrastructure for
the Council of Representative and Shura Council committees, in order optical fibers. It further aims to enhance competition within
to further enhance co-operation between the executive and legislative the mobile telecommunications sector, spectrum and fifth
branches. The Cabinet also reviewed the Electricity and Water Authority’s generation, and to provide international connectivity to and
performance and efficiency regarding the production, transmission and from Bah- rain, as well as to further develop the Kingdom’s
distribution of electricity and water during the summer months. The digital economy. HRH the Crown Prince issued directives
memorandum submitted by the Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs to ministers and government agencies to expedite their
also outlined the measures and preparations taken by the authority to responses to questions and requests received from the
rationalize the use of electricity, in addition to projects that contribute Council of Representative and Shura Council committees,
to increasing reliability and ensuring current and future development in order to further enhance co-operation between the
projects receive their required resources. The Cabinet praised the EWA for executive and legislative branches. The Cabinet also
its efforts producing, distributing and transporting electricity and water. reviewed the Electricity and Water Authority’s performance
Bahrain is well on track to upgrade the telecommunications sector as part and efficiency regarding the production, transmission and
of its goal to further develop the country’s digital economy. During online distribution of electricity and water during the summer
weekly Cabinet meeting, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman months. The memorandum submitted by the Minister of
bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander Electricity and Water Affairs also outlined the measures
and First Deputy Prime Minister, the Fifth National Telecommunications and preparations taken by the authority to rationalize the
Plan, which outlines the government’s general policies and strategies use of electricity, in addition to projects that contribute
regarding the telecommunications sector during the next three years. to increasing reliability and ensuring current and future
The plan includes completing the development of the national broadband development projects receive their required resources.
network, extending its coverage to all homes and in situations at fair and The Cabinet praised the EWA for its efforts producing,
reasonable prices, achieving full equality in the provision of services and distributing and transporting electricity and water.

UAE Expects Full 5G Coverage By 2025

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the United wave (mmWave) spectrum to cellcos Etisalat and Du which they
Arab Emirates (UAE) says it expects all inhabited areas of the will use to complement their existing 3.5GHz 5G services. 1GHz of
country to be covered by 5G wireless networks by the end of 2025. the higher band frequencies will be handed out this month, with a
The watchdog recently allocated 24.25GHz-27.5GHz millimeter second tranche made available in the third quarter of 2021.

54 SEP-OCT 2020