Page 102 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2024

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin's Statement on the Visit of

UN Secretary-General António Guterres to ITU

We were honored to host UN Secretary-
General António Guterres at the ITU
Council. The Secretary-General's message
on the urgency of bringing everyone online
and the need to use technology for the
greater good comes at a critical time in
our race to seize the digital moment. One-
third of the world's population — 2.6 billion
people — are still not connected to the
Internet. As emerging technologies like
artificial intelligence reshape the world, the
digital promise remains out of reach for far
too many. I echo the UN Secretary-General's
call for us all to work together to ensure that
advancing technology does not advance
inequality. Reconciling the challenges and
opportunities of digital technologies as they
speed ahead is the test before us. I share
the UN Secretary-General's confidence
that we can count on ITU's experience with
technology standards, digital development
and bringing all the stakeholders together ensure the development of responsible AI success of the recently concluded WSIS+20
in helping harness the power of digital and other emerging technologies, rescue Forum High-Level Event 2024 and the AI for
for everyone while mitigating the risks. the Sustainable Development Goals, and to Good Global Summit stands as testimony
Members of our Council and I welcomed close the world's persistent digital divides. to ITU's capacity to bring the AI and digital
the opportunity to exchange views on The Summit of the Future just over 100 development communities together – and
the state of our digital world and to share days away and the 20-year review of the our unwavering commitment to providing
updates on ITU's work to bring digital World Summit on the Information Society an equal seat at the table for developing
connectivity to all, advance the safe and (WSIS), which is already underway and to be countries. As the UN Secretary-General said,
inclusive use of artificial intelligence, foster concluded next year, are opportunities for us we need to build bridges to create a digital
a sustainable space economy, expand to meet these priorities. ITU stands ready to future that will give everyone, everywhere,
digital opportunities for women and girls, play a lead role in the implementation of the equal opportunities. That digital future is
and broadly to achieve an inclusive, open, Global Digital Compact when it is agreed by now. Let's move forward together to make
sustainable, safe and secure digital future the Summit of the Future. As we focus on it a future that works for us all.
for all. We are running against time to finding a common vision for the future, the

Zegona Closes €5 billion Acquisition of Vodafone Spain

UK-based telecom investment company Spain for up to 10 years post-completion of
Zegona Communications has announced the acquisition. Vodafone and Zegona will
it has the completed the acquisition of enter into other transitional and long-term
telecom operator Vodafone Spain for €5 arrangements for services including access
billion. Zegona said the transaction will to procurement, IoT, mobile roaming and
provide attractive returns for investors and carrier services. According to Vodafone, the
stabilise revenues with new commercial enterprise value of €5.0 billion represents
initiatives. The company announced its a multiple of 5.6x Adjusted EBITDAaL and
plans to buy the Spanish telco last year. The 13.0x Operating Free Cash Flow for the
acquisition marks the Zegona second foray 12-month period ended 30 September
into the Spanish telecoms market. The UK 2023.
investor will be able to use the Vodafone

102 MAY-JUNE 2024