Page 64 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

UAE 5G Conference: National 5G Strategy under Full Implementation in

Partnership with the Private Sector

The UAE 5G Conference, organized by Telecommunication Union (ITU) as well immediate need of the market, including
the Telecommunications Regulatory as experts and speakers representing the need to set policy-level incentives for
Authority (TRA), with the participation of government, private and academic sectors, Telecom Operators all around the region,
technologists, regulatory authority heads, indicating that the conference is in line as reiterated by SAMENA Council’s CEO,
officials from leading industry bodies and with the directives of the UAE government Bocar BA. During the conference, TRA
associations, including ITU, IEEE, ICNIRP, leadership, foreseeing the need to prepare and Huawei have jointly announced
GSMA and SAMENA Telecommunications for the digital future and shape it in a way the launch of the OpenLab for 5G and
Council, and experts in the field of 5G, that serves the community and individuals Internet of Things. This initiative aims to
has addressed the reality, prospects, and enhances happiness in the UAE. H.E. enhance the services of 5G and Internet
challenges and opportunities related to Al Mansoori stated: “We believe in the of Things across the UAE, and to advance
5G. The Conference took place in the future, and that technology should be at innovation and cooperation in various
Westin Dubai Marina and Marina Beach the service of humanity and its aspirations sectors to create an open ecosystem
Resort. During the conference, which for a decent life, sustainable development that promotes the development of the ICT
brought together experts and officials from and happiness. Therefore, we confirm that sector throughout the country. Treading
different countries, several sessions were we have come a long way in establishing a path toward accelerated digitization,
held to discuss important issues relating the foundations of 5G, in cooperation with the UAE has been ranked first in the Arab
to 5G and its potential impact on various our partners in the private sector. We have Region and fourth globally in the launch
aspects of economic, social, educational launched a national 5G strategy, and our and use of 5G networks, according to
and commercial life. The agenda of the telecom service providers have already the Global Connectivity Index, issued by
Conference included 5G implementation started implementing 5G on a commercial Carphone Warehouse, which is specialized
strategy of the UAE government and a scale with vigorous and measured steps in technology benchmarking. This
way forward for the region, emerging based on the outcomes of the World achievement is the result of the efforts of
technologies in 5G networks per sector, Radiocommunication Conference held the telecommunications sector in general,
the impact of 5G in awakening the fourth in Egypt, which resulted in the allocation and TRA in particular, as the main driver of
industrial revolution, autonomous driving of a number of frequency bands for IMT.” 5G launch in the UAE. In recent years, TRA
and machine learning, creating an enabling The UAE 5G Conference has focused has collaborated with Telecom Operators
environment for 5G development, role of on the adoption and development of 5G to raise the telecom sector readiness
standards in making 5G a safe technology by the region, and the factors affecting in order to enable the fifth-generation
for mass-scale deployment, and needs the deployment of technologies such as of mobile network technologies, which
to set incentives for Telecom Operators. population density, nature of the region, continue to contribute to the Emirates’
H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, DG of human activity, etc. The conference global leadership in digitization and drive
TRA-UAE, welcomed H.E. Houlin Zhao, brought forth latest experiences, the creation of digital experiences for the
Secretary-General of the International developments, opportunities and the UAE citizens.

64 NOVEMBER 2019