Page 11 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2024

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