Page 11 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2024
P. 11

LEADERS' SUMMIT 2024  SAMENA TRENDS


                                Key Developments & Outcomes from
                                         the Leaders’ Summit 2024





        The Leaders’ Summit 2024 was no ordinary meeting of industry professionals, but a physical reflection on the collaborative efforts of
        leaders and change-makers, who are enabling the technologically empowered future.

            Vision of Sustainable, Impactful Connectivity

        At  the  heart  of  the  SAMENA  Leaders’  Summit  was  a  clear   digital  infrastructure.  Leaders  from  across  various  segments
        focus  on  advancing  digital  infrastructure  as  a  cornerstone  for   of the ICT Industry discussed the imperative to not only expand
        sustainable  development.  As  nations  and  industries  worldwide   digital networks but also ensure they are resilient and capable of
        grapple  with  increasing  digital  demands,  the  Leaders’  Summit   supporting the growing influx of digital services and data traffic.
        highlighted the urgent need for robust, scalable, and sustainable
            Harnessing the Power of 5G

                                                               “SAMENA Council is confident that its key GCC telecom players,
                                                               including  especially  stc,  Mobily,  e&,  Omantel,  Zain,  Ooredoo,  to
                                                               name a few of SAMENA Council’s Members, who were among the
                                                               world’s first adopters of 5G, can now also be anticipated to trigger
                                                               the world’s first wave in 5G-Advanced…”, were the words expressed
                                                               by CEO of SAMENA Council, Bocar BA, in the opening plenary of
                                                               the Leaders’ Summit 2024. This view was later on substantiated by
                                                               GSMA’s Jawad Abbasi, head of MENA at the mobile industry body.
                                                               During his talk, Abbasi also noted that “5G is the fastest growing
                                                               mobile technology” ever as it has taken less than four years for 5G
                                                               to reach the 1.5 billion user mark.

                                                               In the GSMA’s presentation of key findings, based on its State of 5G
                                                               2024 report, Gulf nations prominently held the top five connectivity
                                                               index rankings. Three of the top five countries on the index are from
                                                               the Gulf nations. Kuwait had the highest score (68) followed by the
                                                               UAE (59), Norway (58), Finland (57), Qatar (57) and Denmark (57).

            5G-A Readiness Marked in the Region

        The  5G-Advanced  Leaders’  Forum,  held
        during  the  SAMENA  Council  Leaders’
        Summit  2024,  charted  the  course  for  the
        evolution of 5G technology to the 5G-A era,
        which  will  catalyze  digital  innovation  and
        intelligence across the Middle East.

        The  event  was  attended  by  high-profile
        speakers  and  guests,  including  regulatory
        authorities from the Middle East represented
        by  UAE’s  Telecommunications  and  Digital
        Government  Regulatory  Authority  (TDRA),
        industry groups represented by GSMA and
        WBBA, ICT solution providers, enterprises,
        analysts,  ecosystem  partners  and  media
        members. Eng. Saif Bin Ghelaita, Executive
        Director, Technology  Development  Affairs,
        TDRA,  delivered  the  opening  speech  at   speakers  at  the  forum  included  Jawad  J.   Creaner, DG, WBBA; Khalid Murshed, CTIO,
        the  5G-A  Leaders’  Forum.  Other  notable   Abbassi,  Head  of  MENA,  GSMA;  Martin   e&  UAE;  Karim  Benkirane,  CCO,  du;  Cao


                                                                                                    11   MAY-JUNE 2024
   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16