Page 52 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

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Saudi Arabia Companies Lead the Adoption of 5G

5G-enabled industries have the potential contributing to the realization of the Companies that have embraced 5G stand
to deliver $8 trillion in value to the global Saudi Vision 2030. Also, it was observed to benefit from advantages that go way
economy by 2030, according to new that companies have accelerated digital beyond faster, more efficient and reliable
research from Nokia. The ‘5G Business investment as their response to the network services. Moreover, the biggest
Readiness’ report surveyed 5G maturity Covid-19 pandemic. Rather than stepping challenges we face as a society – from
of companies in various sectors such back from technology investment in the climate change to the pandemic – can be
as mining and energy, public safety, wake of the pandemic, most companies better tackled through use of the data and
transportation and health, around the have strengthened it. 56% of decision technologies that 5G will unleash.”
world. The report found Saudi Arabia to makers surveyed in Saudi Arabia as part of More interesting findings:
be leading the race in 5G maturity with Nokia’s research said they had accelerated • 54% respondents said they have their
13% Saudi companies rated as 5G mature, their digital transformation programmes CXOs support for 5G implementation in
meaning they have deployed and are as a result of Covid-19. The report also their organization;
planning to expand their 5G networks. highlights a clear correlation between 5G • New sales opportunities (65%) and
Overall, 47% of technology decision makers deployment and business performance. improved data management (61%) are
have a long term 5G strategy. The report Companies at an advanced level of 5G the top 2 impacts of 5G for those who
further lists significant variations by sector adoption were the only group to experience have already invested in 5G;
in terms of 5G maturity. Globally, those a net increase in productivity (+10%) • Two thirds of technology buyers (65%)
with the highest maturity are healthcare following Covid-19, and the only group are planning to invest more in 5G than
(10%), manufacturing (9%), and energy and able to maintain or increase customer they did in 3G/4G technology; and
utilities (7%), while 94% in transportation engagement during the pandemic. Bernard • 97% of technology purchasers have
and 93% in mining sectors are currently Najm, Head of the Saudi Arabia Market had their technology requirements
investing or have plans to invest in 5G. Unit at Nokia, said: “The new study impacted by Covid-19. 99% have had
For Saudi Arabia, these industries could underlines that 5G adoption has clearly their strategic technology planning
drive the next level of 5G adoption towards fuelled business success in Saudi Arabia. impacted.

Cellular Service Providers Bag Broadband Contracts In Pakistan

The Universal Service Fund (USF) on 0.7 million would benefit from high-speed contract of Mastung and Ziarat districts
Monday approved the award of contracts mobile broadband services in 648 unserved in Balochistan to serve an unserved
to several cellular service providers, villages and an approximate unserved area population of approximately 0.1m in 226
including Telenor, Zong, Ufone and PTCL of 18,212 square kilometers. Similarly, unserved villages and an approximate
under the Next Generation Broadband Zong has been awarded the contract of unserved area of 6,324 sq km. The projects
for Sustainable Development and Next Karachi West and Malir districts in Sindh which would improve digital and cellular
Generation Optical Fiber Network and that will benefit an unserved population of connectivity in the country, especially in
Services programmes. The total worth of approximately 0.1m in 36 unserved villages rural areas as well as promoting tourism
the awarded contracts is Rs5.11 billion. and approximately 690 sq. km of unserved infrastructure.
Under the Next Generation Optical Fiber area while Ufone is being awarded the
Network and Services projects, worth
approximately Rs3bn, around 1,078 km of
optical fiber cable will be laid out to connect
140 villages and union councils thereby
providing high-speed mobile broadband
services to an unserved population of
approximately 4.7 million. According to the
details of the contracts, PTCL was awarded
the contract for Kashmore, Ghotki, Sukkur
and Khairpur districts in Sindh. Telenor,
Zong and Ufone bagged contracts worth
Rs2 billion. Telenor was awarded the
contract for Chitral, Upper Dir and Lower
Dir districts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
where an unserved population of around

52 SEP-OCT 2020