Page 9 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

COVID-19 VS TELECOM INDUSTRY SAMENA TRENDS

Dealing With the Aftermath of COVID-19

Through Collaborated Acceleration of 5G

Implementation Across the World

Given the role ICTs play in our lives,
SAMENA Council sees several reasons
for accelerating urgency of overcoming
Bocar A. BA
Chief Executive Officer & Board Member bottlenecks in both broadband connectivity
SAMENA Telecommunications Council as well as in 5G implementation, in order to
ensure that quick technology responses to

crisis situations can be provided at present
and in the future.

Ever since the New Year dawned upon us, a standstill prevails can be provided at present and in the future. The enormity of the
across our globalized human society. A few months ago, it’d situation gone viral now demands multi-stakeholder collaboration
have been unthinkable to concede that a formidable new foe in and re-prioritization in both letter and spirit.
Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 would have the ability to put our entire
worldly activities to a halt. Although COVID-19 vaccine trials have COVID-19’s Socio-economic Impact
now started, and while there is yet no slowing down of the adverse COVID-19 has caused unprecedented ripple effects across the
impact catalyzed by COVID-19, we can be certain that the innate health sector, manufacturing industries, retail and other travel
human potential, which has taken us from surprise-to-solution services, trade and transportation, leisure, work and play. As
in just a few months, our humanity, and our collaborative efforts a result, reductions in long-term growths across markets are
remain our best anchors in tides. being predicted. Supply chains have been disturbed. Stocks
have tumbled. Investment plans for physical infrastructure
Given the role ICTs play in our lives, SAMENA Council sees several development, including ICT, have come under review. Social
reasons for accelerating urgency of overcoming bottlenecks in and business activities are down. Important international
both broadband connectivity as well as in 5G implementation, in meetings have been cancelled. What is most critical, however,
order to ensure that quick technology responses to crisis situations is that livelihoods have come under immense stress. Equally

9 MARCH 2020