Page 11 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023

FEATURED SAMENA TRENDS

purpose. SAMENA Council also advocated well as to the 2023 launch of Sustainability SAMENA Telecommuni-
consideration of 6Ghz for more suitable Innovation Hub in collaboration with GCC
and optimum purposes—which is to meet Telco Alliance members, including e&, Zain, cations Council, in part-
coverage and capacity requirements in a Batelco, Omantel, du, Ooredoo and other nership with esteemed
5G and post-5G environment. key regional and international partners.
members of the Advo-

Following the international gathering Moreover, this contribution by the Council cacy Taskforce of the
of spectrum policymakers during WRC- was in continuation of its messages
23, the ITU later announced decisions, delivered from GCF 2023 in Saudi Arabia, former UN Broadband
including opening a portion of the 6GHz where the Council had reiterated that future Commission Working
band (6.425-7.125GHz) for 5G licensed network deployment, including 6G networks
mobile Operators; a decision that has been by the end of the decade, would greatly Group on 21st Centu-
received well by the SAMENA Council require attention to fulfilling environmental, ry Financing Models to
community as well as Operators, in general. social and economic sustainability
requirements, as well as supporting the Bridge the Connectivi-
goals of the Paris Agreement of the United ty Gap, including Smart
Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change. Africa and Digicel, set
the foundation for a new
With views expressed by major SAMENA
Council members, specifically, Cisco and Universal Broadband
SES, the SAMENA Council-led panel delved Financing Framework,
into responsibilities of ICT and non-ICT
players with respect to taking corrective to be adopted for pilot
action on the climate crisis; embedding implementations in Af-
digital transformation, innovations in
CONNECTIVITY, MOBILITY & connectivity in collaboration with Mobility- rica and may, in parallel,
SUSTAINABILITY sector players, smart mobility applications be extended to ASEAN
Focused on fostering and enabling and services, smart and cost-effective
collaboration between the Mobility/ energy solutions to catalyze an altogether states.
Transport and the ICT/Telecom sectors, a new ecosystem; sustainability initiatives
SAMENA Council led an advocacy exercise currently in place, and innovative strategies implementations in Africa and may, in
to bring forth cross-industry exchange of leveraging telecommunications to drive parallel, be extended to ASEAN states.
ideas that can drive innovation among sustainable trends, transforming the This underscores a shared commitment by
Technology Providers, Telecom Operators, landscape of transportation and smart SAMENA Council to achieve digital inclusion
Satellite Operators, and Mobility sector mobility in the SA-ME-NA region. through broadband connectivity while also
players working together on both business alleviating pressures on Telecom Operators
opportunities as well as on fulfilling with respect to infrastructure investments,
the Sustainable Development Agenda, given the latter’s critical role in carrying out
particularly SDG 13 (“urgent action to future broadband infrastructure expansion
combat climate change and its impact”. across the SA-ME-NA region and beyond.

In the age of 5G/5G-Advanced, when This contribution by SAMENA Council is in
cross-industry partnerships have emerged continuation of the work steered within the
as crucial areas in socio-economic and UN Broadband Commission by the Council
innovative business-case development, on 21st century funding and financing
collaboration between the Mobility and models in 2021. SAMENA Council’s
the ICT sectors can make a significant continued engagement and focus on
difference in our efforts to achieve major UNIVERSAL BROADBAND FINANCING unlocking capital to support Operators and
SDGs while creating impactful business SAMENA Telecommunications Council, in to sustain digital infrastructure investments
use-cases. partnership with esteemed members of will have direct impact on broadband
the Advocacy Taskforce of the former UN affordability, sustainable investments in
The SAMENA Council-led panel on Broadband Commission Working Group on the digital infrastructure and innovation,
sustainability was in direct, continued 21st Century Financing Models to Bridge and would help Telecom Operators and
support to the 2022 MoU signed by the Connectivity Gap, including Smart other stakeholders achieve new milestones
SAMENA Council members, including Africa and Digicel, set the foundation for in collaboration. Work on this front will
stc Group, Etisalat (e&), Zain Group, and a new Universal Broadband Financing continue well beyond 2024.
Omantel to reduce carbon footprint, as Framework, to be adopted for pilot

11 DECEMBER 2023