Page 8 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023

FEATURED SAMENA TRENDS

2023 in Review

SAMENA Council’s Recap of a Year that Brought Significant Advocacy
Milestones to Fulfillment in Support of Telecom Operators & the ICT
Industry, at Large

Representing a community of the largest multi-network operator groups in the SA-ME-NA region, SAMENA Council is a regionally-focused
but globally-active telecommunications and ICT advocacy and regulatory reach organization. In this regard, the Council values the
confidence provided to it by the Industry’s top decision-makers, who constantly remain involved in what the Council does as a pan-
regional telecommunications and ICT industry association, working diligently as an advocate for sustainability of the Industry and a
supporter of national ICT visions throughout the geographies.

In 2023, SAMENA Council’s focus has been on building stakeholder support, advocating regulatory transformation, interlinking societal
welfare with secure digital space, corroborating the necessity of high-capacity fixed networks, supporting 5G evolution for cross-industry
development, bringing Mobility/Transportation sector closer to Telecom sector, voicing sustainability imperatives, and bringing innovative
framework to finance and fund future digital infrastructure.
GHz; new cybersecurity imperatives; emer- SAMENA Council has
gence of metaverse; the role of financial
services industry and other sectors; and been vocal about having
the overarching critical requirement of ICT good regulation at the
ecosystem sustainability, are serving as
catalysts to rethink investment, sustainable foundation of industry
operations, end-user and enterprise service development and sus-
delivery, while delivering on globally-agreed
digital development expectations. Rising tainability. “Good reg-
synergies among ICT Industry and other In- ulation would help set
dustries, especially the Financial Services
industry, also merit repositioning of per- incentives, sustain in-
STAKEHOLDER CO-OPERATION-BUILDING spectives, including on how new co-opera- vestments, and would
Regional regulatory authorities need tion mechanisms can be created for intra guarantee level-playing
to enhance strategic cooperation in and inter-industry development.
developing the digital economy and field for businesses and
in harnessing digital technologies for varied choices for the
sustainable economic development.
end-user. The values we
In the words of SG-ITU “As the world rapidly want to promote, such
adopts digital technologies, greater cross-
sector collaboration is urgently needed to as safety, privacy, and
help every country advance on its digital security, all require reg-
transformation journey. Best-practice
regulation and policy making play a crucial ulations. Thus, the role
and catalytic role in advancing digital of regulatory authorities
inclusion.”
GOOD REGULATIONS & INDUSTRY is tremendous, and it re-
Recent policy and regulatory developments ENABLEMENT quires to be driven by
in GCC region, particularly with respect to Prior to the GSR-23, SAMENA Council, an industry-enablement
accelerated focus on digital transforma- represented by CEO, Bocar BA, had
tion; adopting technology and regulatory acknowledged that “Regulation is what mindset that supports
sandboxes; making beneficial use of 5G keeps things in flow, and when done right, digital infrastructure de-
investments; network evolution toward ensures predictability, stability, and aids
5.5G/5G-Advance; rising discussion on 6 informed decision-making and innovation. velopment for all people.”

8 DECEMBER 2023