Page 24 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2024

SAMENA COUNCIL ADVOCACY SAMENA TRENDS

SAMENA Council Advocacy

SAMENA Council’s CEO Bocar BA Advocates Adoption of Innovative
Financing Models at WSIS 2024 to Bridge Digital Divide

At the WSIS 2024 Leaders TalkX session,
titled "Partnership Pivot: Innovating
International Cooperation to Scale Digital
Inclusion," SAMENA Telecommunications
Council, represented by CEO Bocar Ba,
emphasized the critical need for enhanced
international collaboration and innovative
financing to address the global digital
divide. With 2.6 billion people lacking
access to ICTs, Ba underscored the
importance of strategic partnerships and
sustainable investment models.

Ba advocated expanding

the base of contributors
beyond the traditional
telecom industry to

include global digital
platforms, content provi- and sustained investment. Ba advocated Financing Framework to secure the
expanding the base of contributors beyond
necessary capital for universal access
ders, financial insti- the traditional telecom industry to include initiatives. He called for collaborative
tutions, development global digital platforms, content providers, investment approaches and flexible,
technology-neutral regulatory frameworks
financial institutions, development banks,
banks, and governments. and governments. to ensure equitable access to digital
transformation benefits. Ba reaffirmed
In his address, Ba identified the Ba drew on his experience as co-chair of SAMENA Council’s commitment to
most compelling element for uniting the UN Broadband Commission's former promoting a digitally inclusive global
stakeholders in universal digital inclusion: Working Group on 21st-century financing society through strategic initiatives and
unlocking access to capital by broadening models, promoting a Universal Broadband policy recommendations.
the contributor base for financing digital
infrastructure. He highlighted that Ba reaffirmed SAMENA Council’s commitment to
connectivity is foundational for economic promoting a digitally inclusive global society through
and societal inclusion, requiring a
structured approach to mobilize substantial strategic initiatives and policy recommendations.

24 MAY-JUNE 2024