Page 112 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Technology and CST Board Chairman, and with the attendance of to create software solutions, applications, and websites without
H.E. Dr. Mohammad bin Saud Altamimi, CST Governor. With the any programming experience. In addition, the winners of Co.
theme “Pioneering Software for a Thriving Digital Economy”, the Innovation Award were announced, which aims to present the best
forum presented the main opportunities in software market and local tech products developed in collaboration with end-users. It is
its positive impact in digital transformation in various sectors, worth noting that the Digital Technology Forum is an annual event
the enablement of business models in digital economy and the organized by CST, in collaboration with the Communications and
most prominent numbers in the technology sector. The third Information Technology Ministry, to keep up with the latest trends
edition of the forum witnessed the launch of several initiatives and and changes in the technology sector. This year's forum featured
programs, including the announcement of tech companies that prominent experts in technology and has presented 5 panel
have been granted the "Saudi Tech" Membership, which represents discussions and 3 presentations to address the opportunities in
a national identity to promote local tech products and enhance software market in the Kingdom, its impact on the development of
their reach locally and globally. Moreover, the forum announced the digital economy, and the future of software locally and globally.
the Low Code Programming Challenge to address technical (October 22, 2023) www.cst.gov.sa
challenges by utilizing low-code development platforms and tools

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s four mobile operators have launched new network APIs Sri Lanka as Open Gateway coverage grows. The GSMA says over
from the GSMA Open Gateway initiative to help developers and 36 mobile operator groups, representing 214 mobile networks
businesses ramp up growth of digital services and apps. Bharti and 60% of mobile connections worldwide, have joined the Open
Airtel Lanka, Dialog Axiata, Hutchison Telecommunications Lanka Gateway initiative to date. “We foresee this will indeed open up a
(a.k.a. Hutch) and SLT-Mobitel have prioritized and launched three new ecosystem for much broader opportunities and collaborations
APIs: One Time Password (OTP) Validation, Device Location and between network operators, developers and enterprises, and
Carrier Billing. The Open Gateway framework promises consistent, at far greater scale accelerate digital service innovations and
interoperable access to mobile networks through the Linux experiences in the respective markets,” said Saumitra Gupta,
Foundation’s standards-based CAMARA repository. The APIs give acting CEO of Hutch. Mobitel chief operating officer Sudharshana
developers and enterprises a standard way to technically and Geeganage added, “This will further strengthen the developer
commercially reach Sri Lankans with new digital services and apps community, which is an integral part of the API economy, by
that will work seamlessly with all mobile networks in Sri Lanka, as facilitating various trusted network services and thereby unlocking
well as overseas where operators have launched the same APIs. opportunities in the global app markets propelling digital economy
Meanwhile, Open Gateway APIs are locally and globally federated, forward.”
which means developers can reach new subscribers outside of (November 1, 2023) www.developingtelecoms.com

Turkey

Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence Summit was hosted with cloud-based computing environments to enable intuitive
by the Information Technology and Communication Authority. The and connected experiences, Karagözoğlu said, “By talking to
event was held in cooperation with BTK Academy and Huawei. the digital assistants in our smart devices and assigning them
Speaking at the event, Mayor Karagözoğlu stated that innovative tasks, we establish relationships similar to the communication
technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence we establish with a human. This makes our daily life practices
play a key role in today's digital transformation. He said, “While easier. This type of artificial intelligence; “It allows users to shop,
cloud computing is used to store and process data, optimize use smart home systems or listen to a favorite song instantly, and
business processes and make more optimized decisions, artificial combines seamless artificial intelligence technology and cloud-
intelligence; It contributes to many areas such as automation, based computing resources.” he said. As BTK, we are working
predictive analysis and improvement of customer experiences. with all our strength to prepare our country and our youth for the
"Businesses and institutions can only gain competitive advantage digital world of the future. Emphasizing that artificial intelligence
by using these technologies effectively and thus achieve very and cloud computing together form the foundations of the
successful results in the long term." said. Stating that today, technology of the future, Karagözoğlu said, “At this point, we are
artificial intelligence combines machine learning capabilities aware of our responsibility to adapt to these technologies and

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