Page 11 - SAMENA Trends - July-September 2024

SAMENA COUNCIL ADVOCACY SAMENA TRENDS

“New methods and new financial Investment in 5G Core
instruments have been brought to Most of the incremental value in the 5G-Advanced era
surface, and SAMENA Council is will be delivered by core network enhancements.
actively pursuing realization of its Investing in 5G core for Standalone (SA) architecture

proposition on this frontier with is critical for Operators aiming to fully monetize their
networks. Multiple challenges as well as opportunities
relevant stakeholders, including with exist in 5.5G deployments, and there is a need to
renowned financial institutions and showcase the future of voice communication in the 5.5G
era and the groundbreaking solutions driving innovation.
investment groups” AI solutions could help overcome various network-level
and service-level hurdles. The transformative impact
Progressive digital-sector regulatory environment is fundamental of Level 4 Autonomous Driving Networks on reducing
to achieving scale in 5G investments and, particularly, in creating operational costs and boosting network efficiency are
5G-Standalone networks. Collectively, the industry should aim to integral. 5G has emerged as a key driver, with 5GSA,
eradicate unpredictability, enable cost-cutting through reduced voice, telco cloud, autonomous networks, and 5.5G core
licensing fees and reduced taxation or levies, align better with being among key areas of importance in driving value out
global efforts and trends, and foster the creation of a level-playing of 5G.
field for all players within the digital communications space.

In 2023, SAMENA Council and Leading Stakeholders Embarked on a Groundbreaking Universal
Broadband Financing Initiative

SAMENA Telecommunications Council, in partnership infrastructure expansion across other markets.
with esteemed members of the Advocacy Taskforce
of the former UN Broadband Commission Working The meeting was a testament to the collective resolve to
Group on 21st Century Financing Models to Bridge the address prevailing connectivity gaps. It brought together
Connectivity Gap, including Smart Africa and Digicel, ICT ministers, leaders from the ICT industry, funding
chaired a pivotal Broadband Development Financing groups, Telecom Operators, financial institutions, and
Meeting, held at Vodafone Global Headquarters in regulatory bodies, showcasing a unified front in tackling
London on 27th November 2023. Attended by more than digital divides still prevailing around the world.
30 distinguished delegates from various sectors, the
London meeting marked a significant milestone in global SAMENA Council believes that this new initiative will
efforts to bridge the digital divide and bring connectivity have direct impact on broadband affordability, sustainable
to the unconnected, including in the SA-ME-NA region investments in the digital infrastructure and innovation,
and neighboring regions. and would help Telecom Operators and other stakeholders
achieve new milestones in collaboration. SAMENA
The meeting’s central achievement was the establish- Council also extends heartfelt gratitude to all attendees
ment of the foundational elements for a new Universal for their valuable contributions and an unwavering
Broadband Financing Framework. This groundbreak- commitment to this initiative. Together, the participants
ing initiative is set to commence with implementations have set in motion a transformative endeavor poised to
in Nigeria and Rwanda, underscoring a commitment to make significant strides in connecting the unconnected,
enhancing digital inclusion through broadband con- making progress on the SDGs, and fostering a more
nectivity, thus setting a precedent for future broadband digitally-inclusive world.

11 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2024