Participating in the 15th Global Mobile Broadband Forum hosted by Huawei, the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, an industry association championing the digital advancement of the South Asia, Middle East, and North Africa regions, reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in driving 5.5G (5G-advanced) innovation and digital transformation.
“We are on the brink of a transformative era in connectivity, one that will redefine industries, uplift communities, and support sustainable development. Through the SAMENA Council, we are creating a unified platform to bring diverse stakeholders together and catalyze progress in the whole region,” said Bocar Ba, CEO at SAMENA Council, on the sidelines of Huawei’s Global MBBF 2024 in Istanbul, Turkiye.
Under the theme “5.5G Leads Mobile AI Era,” this year’s Global MBB Forum by Huawei focused on the rapid development of 5.5G infrastructure and AI-powered applications. More than 1,000 participants, including mobile network carriers, ecosystem innovators and technology leaders from across the world gathered to share insights on how these advances will impact industries and individuals.
The Kingdom has become a focal point for SAMENA Council’s efforts to promote next-generation connectivity and cross-sectoral collaboration. “Saudi Arabia is an important market for the SAMENA Council and its members and is the region’s largest digital economy,”
added Ba.
Bocar Ba, CEO at SAMENA Council
“The Kingdom’s proactive initiatives and strong collaboration between government entities and the private sector have created a fertile environment for accelerating digital transformation. From telecom operators like stc, Mobily, Zain, and Salam to key government regulators, Saudi Arabia is setting a benchmark for the region.”
The council is actively engaging with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and industry leaders to address critical areas, including spectrum management, fixed wireless access deployment, and agile regulatory frameworks that support the adoption of 5.5G technologies.
The council is also collaborating closely with the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, to address emerging cybersecurity challenges. “Cyber resilience is critical as we scale up 5.5G,” Ba said. “Our work with CST and other stakeholders like MCIT ensures a secure, future-ready ICT infrastructure that can support diverse applications across industries.”
As the Kingdom prepares for the widespread implementation of 5.5G, SAMENA Council has been instrumental in identifying opportunities for leveraging this transformative technology. Ba emphasized that 5.5G will unlock innovative applications across critical industries such as health care and education.
“The next phase of 5G is already here,” he said. “Saudi Arabia is well-positioned to lead the way in adopting 5.5G technologies, which will not only accelerate economic diversification but also drive significant improvements in quality of life. Fixed wireless access, in particular, will play a crucial role in connecting underserved areas and bridging the digital divide.”
To support these efforts, SAMENA Council has launched the ELITE FWA Club, which focuses on promoting fixed wireless access as a key enabler of digital inclusion. In addition, the council is working with global technology providers such as Huawei to accelerate digital innovation and develop future-focused use cases for 5.5G.
“Saudi Arabia’s vision for digital transformation is inspiring. By fostering collaboration between government entities, technology providers, and telecom operators, the Kingdom is not only transforming its economy but also setting a global benchmark for what sustainable digital development should look like,” added Ba.
