The SAMENA Telecommunications Council participated in the 6G MENA Summit 2026, organized by the UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) in Abu Dhabi, contributing an operator perspective on 6G readiness, with emphasis on connectivity, intelligence, digital continuity and trust.
Addressing the Summit, Bocar A. BA, CEO of the SAMENA Council, emphasized that the lessons of 5G must inform preparations for 6G, particularly the need to translate infrastructure advancement into economic value. Future network development must be supported by technology maturity, spectrum certainty, commercial demand and sustainable investment. The SAMENA Council expressed its support for TDRA’s 6G vision and the work undertaken through its national roadmap, 6G Initiative and engagement with industry and research institutions. The Council emphasized that continued coordination between regulatory priorities and private-sector decisions will be essential to ensuring that future network capabilities respond to commercial requirements, investment conditions and national digital development objectives.
Trust was a central consideration in the Council’s message. As networks become increasingly AI-native and autonomous, their ability to operate intelligently must be matched by clear responsibility, defined authority, human oversight and dependable service continuity. The transition from AI-assisted operations toward systems capable of taking action and verifying outcomes makes trust in network decisions, governance and operational performance increasingly important.
These priorities also connect with the SAMENA Council’s Digital Continuity Forum 2026, held in Dubai on September 23 with the Chief Patronage of TDRA. The Forum examined the continuity of essential digital services, infrastructure dependencies, operational preparedness and recovery capabilities, all of which are relevant to the development of increasingly intelligent and autonomous networks.
At the 6G MENA Summit, the Council identified four priorities for regional 6G readiness: investment confidence, AI governance, digital resilience and regional cooperation, including research, trials and standards development. Progress in these areas will require sustained coordination among regulators, operators, technology providers and research institutions, with greater alignment between technological possibilities, regulatory planning and commercial requirements.
The SAMENA Council will continue supporting industry dialogue and cooperation with TDRA and other regional stakeholders, connecting operator priorities with policy, research and future network development. 6G readiness requires technological capability, commercial viability, operational dependability and trust, supported by coordinated regulatory and private-sector efforts to prepare for the next generation of resilient communications networks.
ENDS
Source: SAMENA Council Press Release
