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Mid East Info
28-05-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
During the Leaders' Summit 2025, SAMENA Council and WBBA Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Regional Broadband Development and ICT Collaboration
Dubai, UAE: The SAMENA Telecommunications Council and the World Broadband Association (WBBA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking the beginning of a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing broadband access, supporting innovation, and strengthening policy alignment across the South Asia, Middle East, and North Africa (SA-ME-NA) region, and beyond. The MoU sets forth a framework of mutual cooperation between the two non-profit organizations, both of which play critical roles in shaping the telecommunications and ICT landscape. Through this partnership, the SAMENA Council and WBBA will work together to foster knowledge exchange, support standardization, promote best practices, and amplify policy advocacy efforts to accelerate digital transformation across emerging markets. 'Today's MoU marks a shared commitment between the SAMENA Council and the WEBBA to fostering a digitally inclusive region,' said Bocar BA, CEO of SAMENA Council. 'By joining forces with the WBBA, we aim to bring our regional expertise and multi-stakeholder engagement to the global broadband conversation—promoting collaborative approaches that advance connectivity, innovation, sustainability in investments for broadband development, greener deployment of broadband technology, and policy alignment, in general.' Key areas of cooperation under the MoU between the SAMENA Council and the WBBA include: Expanding broadband access across underserved regions; supporting standardization efforts, particularly in broadband customer premise equipment (CPE); harmonizing efforts to promote broadband-related policies and regulatory frameworks across the SA-ME-NA region; advocating for greater awareness of broadband development issues; and collaborating on global and regional industry events and information sharing. 'The WBBA is delighted to formalize this collaboration with the SAMENA Council,' said Martin Creaner, Director General, WBBA. 'We see tremendous potential in working together to empower regional stakeholders, accelerate innovation, and support digital ecosystem partners in our efforts to materialize globally harmonized broadband development. This partnership is an important step toward unlocking scalable impact across emerging digital economies.' The MoU was signed by the WBBA's Chairman of the Board, Dr. Li Zhengmao, and SAMENA Council's CEO & Board Member, Bocar BA, during the SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit 2025. The MoU represents a statement of shared intent, reflecting the Parties' commitment to long-term engagement and coordinated action, while acknowledging its non-binding nature. As part of the agreement, the two organizations will also promote each other's initiatives through mutual visibility in publications, digital platforms, and participation in industry activities. The MoU allows for future expansion of the partnership through supplementary agreements for specific joint projects or events. The MoU signing was followed by both trade associations co-chairing a broadband roundtable during the SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit 2025, titled 'Smarter Broadband: Investment. Innovation. Intelligence.' About SAMENA Council: SAMENA Telecommunications Council is a tri-regional industry association representing telecom operators and ICT stakeholders in South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, dedicated to facilitating dialogue, digital growth, and industry collaboration with the larger aim of building digital economies. About WBBA: The World Broadband Association is a global non-profit organization committed to accelerating broadband innovation and deployment by representing the interests of stakeholders across the broadband value- chain.
Mid East Info
26-05-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit 2025 Advances Vision for Intelligent & Sustainable Digital Transformation across Communications Networks and Digital Economy
May 26, Dubai, UAE With the chief patronage of the TDRA-UAE, the SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit 2025 was held today in Dubai with a renewed call for accelerating transformation across technologies, communications networks, and digital economies, with unified digital action across the South Asia–Middle East–North Africa region at large. Organized by the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, the Summit gathered a high-profile community of global policymakers, regional regulators, technology firms, and digital ecosystem enablers from across the globe at Madinat Jumeirah, to identify and address real-world imperatives of building intelligent, inclusive, and sustainable digital economies, especially in the 5G-Advanced and AI digital environment. Held under the theme 'Intelligent & Sustainable Transformation of Digital Economies', this year's Summit arrived at a critical moment—when the first operational wave of agentic AI, intelligent networks, and data-driven policy is demanding new forms of collaboration, infrastructure planning, network monetization, app-ecosystem advancements, and regulatory foresight. With 2025 marking a historic inflection point in digital enablement, especially in view of UN Sustainable Development Agenda, the Summit's agenda was designed to align on the priorities, technologies, networks, as well as business and governance models that will define the region's next chapter in the region's digital transformation. Following a high-level Opening Ceremony, which included keynotes from TDRA, Huawei, ITU, DCDT (South Africa), DCO, WBBA, and ZTE, and an MoU signing ceremony between the WBBA and the SAMENA Council, the Leaders' Summit 2025 welcomed the Guest of Honor, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, who delivered a powerful keynote message for the ICT industry. Throughout the day, the Summit served as a strategic platform for deep exploration across critical domains. The 'Space & Digital Connectivity' session discussed the growing role of Mobile Satellite Services and non-terrestrial networks in expanding regional reach and resilience, particularly in anticipation of WRC-27 as well as ongoing priority issues in space development and sustainability. In parallel, the TDRA-chaired Multi-TRA Digital Transformation Forum brought together regional regulators as well as UAE government entities to explore digital service transformation and improved delivery of citizen-centric services by leveraging the 5G and 5G-A infrastructure. Key stakeholder deliberation sessions also included a preparatory informal G20-centric roundtable among private and government-sector stakeholders from the G20 and non-G20 member countries. The roundtable was convened with the primary objective to facilitating an exchange of insights in view of South Africa's presidency of the G20 summit, which will take place in November 2025. The evolution of next-generation networks, which has mandated telecom operators to transform their business models, was in sharp focus at dedicated business-centric sessions, including the Techco Transformation session and the 5G-Advanced Leaders' Forum, where participants examined how AI-powered, experience-centric services are redefining monetization strategies and elevating network value. Conversations moved beyond connectivity to addressing how operators must now lead in curating intelligent, adaptive digital experiences. Further roundtable sessions on Smarter Cyberspace and Digital Enablement delved into emerging governance challenges in AI, Fiber connectivity, cybersecurity imperatives for telecom operators as well as governments and other ecosystem partners. Discussions also focused on identifying practical, strategic pathways for driving affordability, accessibility, growth, and openness, in digital innovation, with the aim to new end-user experiences, sustainable ecosystem and competition-centric considerations, and ways to make the data-driven economy sustainable as well. These topics also came into discussion at the last panel of the day, which built on the Summit's first panel on revenue growth opportunities for telecom operators, including through 'super apps'. The 9th Global ICT Energy Efficiency Summit, hosted within the broader SAMENA Leaders' Summit, pushed the conversation toward climate-aware digital growth. With rising energy consumption from expanding digital infrastructure, speakers called for scalable, green design principles and renewed commitments from both public and private stakeholders. Energy efficiency is now a core requirement for long-term viability, as is the safety of power solutions, including lithium batteries. Beyond the formal sessions, the Leaders' Summit 2025 also operated as a powerful networking and visibility arena, showcasing region-led digital breakthroughs and connecting global best practices with local execution. It was a space where digital policies met engineering realities—and where strategic dialogue evolved into tangible partnership pathways. In his keynote remarks, Bocar A. BA, CEO of SAMENA Telecommunications Council, spoke candidly about the transition the region is navigating: 'We are in the age of intelligent connectivity and operate in a landscape where infrastructure is no longer just about coverage—it is about cognition, energy discipline, and service relevance. In this context, the SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit is not simply an event. It is a mechanism for regional coordination, for responsible innovation, and for establishing the shared direction we need. We cannot afford to be fragmented, neither in vision nor in execution.' The Summit's success was made possible by a coalition of trusted partners and institutions whose commitment to the SAMENA platform signals confidence in the power of regional cooperation. SAMENA Council extended special thanks to the ITU leadership for the UN agency's ongoing collaboration and guidance, which continues to reinforce the principle of global policy alignment in an increasingly complex digital environment. DCO leadership was thanked for the message on fostering digital cooperation. SAMENA Council also extended appreciation to DCDT South Africa for leadership collaboration on creating an engagement exercise during the Leaders' Summit 2025 to exchange cross-regional and cross-sector insights. Acknowledgment was also given to the Summit's industry partners: Chair Sponsor stc, Host Sponsor Huawei, Platinum Sponsor Mobily, Gold Sponsor ZTE, Industry Development Partner the World Broadband Association, and Strategic Partner 7Generation. Their engagement reflects a shared belief in the Summit's mission and in the importance of sustained public-private coordination across the region. As the event drew to a close, a clear recognition emerged that, to deliver on the promise of digital transformation, the region must operationalize its ambitions with shared strategies, bold governance, and inclusive innovation at every level, and that ecosystem partners should be working closely together, and Operators should recognize that the best way forward is to become technology companies or 'techcos' by making use of intelligence on their networks operating in the 5G/5G-A environment. 'The future of our digital societies is not being written by technology alone,' Bocar A. BA concluded. 'It will be written by how wisely we govern, how inclusively we build, and how effectively we lead. That is the spirit of the SAMENA Leaders' Summit—and the legacy we are committed to building together, with the support of all of you. And once again SAMENA Council would like to thank our chief patron and partners in the Leaders' Summit for their active support to building a legacy of industry collaboration.' Ends
Web Release
26-05-2025
- Business
- Web Release
SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit 2025 Advances Vision for Intelligent & Sustainable Digital Transformation across Communications Networks and Digital Economy
With the chief patronage of the TDRA-UAE, the SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit 2025 was held today in Dubai with a renewed call for accelerating transformation across technologies, communications networks, and digital economies, with unified digital action across the South Asia–Middle East–North Africa region at large. Organized by the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, the Summit gathered a high-profile community of global policymakers, regional regulators, technology firms, and digital ecosystem enablers from across the globe at Madinat Jumeirah, to identify and address real-world imperatives of building intelligent, inclusive, and sustainable digital economies, especially in the 5G-Advanced and AI digital environment. Held under the theme 'Intelligent & Sustainable Transformation of Digital Economies', this year's Summit arrived at a critical moment—when the first operational wave of agentic AI, intelligent networks, and data-driven policy is demanding new forms of collaboration, infrastructure planning, network monetization, app-ecosystem advancements, and regulatory foresight. With 2025 marking a historic inflection point in digital enablement, especially in view of UN Sustainable Development Agenda, the Summit's agenda was designed to align on the priorities, technologies, networks, as well as business and governance models that will define the region's next chapter in the region's digital transformation. Following a high-level Opening Ceremony, which included keynotes from TDRA, Huawei, ITU, DCDT (South Africa), DCO, WBBA, and ZTE, and an MoU signing ceremony between the WBBA and the SAMENA Council, the Leaders' Summit 2025 welcomed the Guest of Honor, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, who delivered a powerful keynote message for the ICT industry. Throughout the day, the Summit served as a strategic platform for deep exploration across critical domains. The 'Space & Digital Connectivity' session discussed the growing role of Mobile Satellite Services and non-terrestrial networks in expanding regional reach and resilience, particularly in anticipation of WRC-27 as well as ongoing priority issues in space development and sustainability. In parallel, the TDRA-chaired Multi-TRA Digital Transformation Forum brought together regional regulators as well as UAE government entities to explore digital service transformation and improved delivery of citizen-centric services by leveraging the 5G and 5G-A infrastructure. Key stakeholder deliberation sessions also included a preparatory informal G20-centric roundtable among private and government-sector stakeholders from the G20 and non-G20 member countries. The roundtable was convened with the primary objective to facilitating an exchange of insights in view of South Africa's presidency of the G20 summit, which will take place in November 2025. The evolution of next-generation networks, which has mandated telecom operators to transform their business models, was in sharp focus at dedicated business-centric sessions, including the Techco Transformation session and the 5G-Advanced Leaders' Forum, where participants examined how AI-powered, experience-centric services are redefining monetization strategies and elevating network value. Conversations moved beyond connectivity to addressing how operators must now lead in curating intelligent, adaptive digital experiences. Further roundtable sessions on Smarter Cyberspace and Digital Enablement delved into emerging governance challenges in AI, Fiber connectivity, cybersecurity imperatives for telecom operators as well as governments and other ecosystem partners. Discussions also focused on identifying practical, strategic pathways for driving affordability, accessibility, growth, and openness, in digital innovation, with the aim to new end-user experiences, sustainable ecosystem and competition-centric considerations, and ways to make the data-driven economy sustainable as well. These topics also came into discussion at the last panel of the day, which built on the Summit's first panel on revenue growth opportunities for telecom operators, including through 'super apps'. The 9th Global ICT Energy Efficiency Summit, hosted within the broader SAMENA Leaders' Summit, pushed the conversation toward climate-aware digital growth. With rising energy consumption from expanding digital infrastructure, speakers called for scalable, green design principles and renewed commitments from both public and private stakeholders. Energy efficiency is now a core requirement for long-term viability, as is the safety of power solutions, including lithium batteries. Beyond the formal sessions, the Leaders' Summit 2025 also operated as a powerful networking and visibility arena, showcasing region-led digital breakthroughs and connecting global best practices with local execution. It was a space where digital policies met engineering realities—and where strategic dialogue evolved into tangible partnership pathways. In his keynote remarks, Bocar A. BA, CEO of SAMENA Telecommunications Council, spoke candidly about the transition the region is navigating: 'We are in the age of intelligent connectivity and operate in a landscape where infrastructure is no longer just about coverage—it is about cognition, energy discipline, and service relevance. In this context, the SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit is not simply an event. It is a mechanism for regional coordination, for responsible innovation, and for establishing the shared direction we need. We cannot afford to be fragmented, neither in vision nor in execution.' The Summit's success was made possible by a coalition of trusted partners and institutions whose commitment to the SAMENA platform signals confidence in the power of regional cooperation. SAMENA Council extended special thanks to the ITU leadership for the UN agency's ongoing collaboration and guidance, which continues to reinforce the principle of global policy alignment in an increasingly complex digital environment. DCO leadership was thanked for the message on fostering digital cooperation. SAMENA Council also extended appreciation to DCDT South Africa for leadership collaboration on creating an engagement exercise during the Leaders' Summit 2025 to exchange cross-regional and cross-sector insights. Acknowledgment was also given to the Summit's industry partners: Chair Sponsor stc, Host Sponsor Huawei, Platinum Sponsor Mobily, Gold Sponsor ZTE, Industry Development Partner the World Broadband Association, and Strategic Partner 7Generation. Their engagement reflects a shared belief in the Summit's mission and in the importance of sustained public-private coordination across the region. As the event drew to a close, a clear recognition emerged that, to deliver on the promise of digital transformation, the region must operationalize its ambitions with shared strategies, bold governance, and inclusive innovation at every level, and that ecosystem partners should be working closely together, and Operators should recognize that the best way forward is to become technology companies or 'techcos' by making use of intelligence on their networks operating in the 5G/5G-A environment. 'The future of our digital societies is not being written by technology alone,' Bocar A. BA concluded. 'It will be written by how wisely we govern, how inclusively we build, and how effectively we lead. That is the spirit of the SAMENA Leaders' Summit—and the legacy we are committed to building together, with the support of all of you. And once again SAMENA Council would like to thank our chief patron and partners in the Leaders' Summit for their active support to building a legacy of industry collaboration.'
TECHx
16-05-2025
- Business
- TECHx
SAMENA Council Announces Leaders' Summit 2025 in Dubai
Home » Other Tech Events » SAMENA Council Announces Leaders' Summit 2025 in Dubai The SAMENA Telecommunications Council has announced that the Leaders' Summit 2025 will take place on May 26 in Dubai. The annual event is expected to bring together renowned leaders, policymakers, regulators, investors, and industry executives from across the SA-ME-NA region, Central Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and ASEAN. Organizers revealed that global and regional ICT and industry development bodies, including ITU, DCO, and GSMA, will also participate. The Summit will be held under the chief-patronage of the UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). It is being organized with strategic industry collaboration from Huawei, Mobily, WBBA, stc, ZTE, and 7 Generation, alongside members of the SAMENA Council. Bocar BA, CEO and Board Member of SAMENA Council, stated that the Leaders' Summit 2025 will focus on sustainable digital transformation. He emphasized the importance of dialogue, collaboration, and investment to accelerate intelligent and secure AI integration within 5G environments. He also highlighted the need for infrastructure expansion to underserved areas and the deployment of innovative services to reshape the digital future. This year's theme, 'Intelligent & Sustainable Transformation of Digital Economies,' reflects a commitment to advancing smart, inclusive growth across SAMENA Council markets. The Summit aims to support discussions ahead of major global stakeholder events, including the G20 Summit. Key points revealed include: High-profile roundtables such as the G20 Inter-Ministerial Roundtable, organized with South Africa's Ministry of Communications. The Multi-TRA Forum, chaired by TDRA-UAE, which will explore strategies for leveraging 5G to enhance municipal and smart city services in the GCC. In addition, a roundtable on Space Development and WRC-27, and another focused on Cybersecurity, will be held. It was reported that the Summit will also examine the role of policies, regulations, and investments in fostering digital ecosystems. Organizers stated that the Summit will provide a platform for governments, businesses, and regulators to align efforts for inclusive digital advancement. With tools like the Digital Economy Navigator (DEN), participants will assess how to guide cross-border digital progress. Stakeholders will explore the adoption of 5G, 5G-Advanced, AI, and related technologies across industries and economic sectors. Ultimately, the Leaders' Summit 2025 will serve as a catalyst for collaboration and innovation to ensure digital transformation is inclusive, intelligent, and sustainable.
TECHx
16-05-2025
- Business
- TECHx
Huawei to Host Forums at Council Leaders' Summit 2025
Home » Top stories » Huawei to Host Forums at Council Leaders' Summit 2025 Dubai, UAE May 15, 2025, Huawei has announced its participation in the SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit 2025. The company will host three forums during the event, which will take place on May 26 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. The forums will cover key industry topics. These include the evolution of 5G to 5G-Advanced (5G-A), the transformation of telecom operators into tech companies, and sustainable ICT development. These areas are seen as critical to shaping the future of the digital economy in the Middle East and Central Asia. The Summit arrives at a vital time for the region's digital growth. Reports show that per capita internet usage in the GCC exceeds the global average by two hours. At the same time, demand for immersive, multi-modal experiences is increasing. This year's event gives global and regional ICT leaders a chance to align on strategies for the 5G-A and AI era. In December 2024, a collective vision was formalized to make the Middle East and Central Asia the world's first 5G-Advanced region. Bocar A. BA, CEO of SAMENA Telecommunications Council, stated that 2025 marks the beginning of large-scale agentic AI adoption. He noted a shift in how digital value is created and delivered. AI is now embedded in both networks and services. He added that the Summit offers a platform to develop strategies for sustainable digital transformation. The focus this year will also include experience monetization and AI integration. Huawei's 5G-A Leaders' Summit will run under the theme 'Exploring 5G-A and AI Experience Monetization, Creating New Value.' Key topics include: How 5G-Advanced and AI create new business growth and user experience opportunities Network improvements and operational excellence through technology convergence The event will highlight how AI agents will soon provide real-time, personalized services. These services aim to simplify daily tasks across homes and businesses. The future of smart homes will also be discussed. Experts will explore how emotional AI interaction and services like 'Smart Home' and 'Home Butler' will become standard. Data generation in these homes could reach petabyte levels. As new services grow, they will increase pressure on networks. Huawei reported that 5G-A networks, offering 10 Gbps downlink, 1 Gbps uplink, and low latency, are ideal for AI-driven applications. Telecom operators are in a strong position to lead AI adoption due to their network advantage. The second forum, Telco to Techco Transformation, will focus on business servitization, platformization, and intelligentization. Huawei and regional partners launched 'Techco 1.0' in November 2024. This initiative is seen as a roadmap to reduce costs and diversify services. Huawei also revealed plans for the 9th Global ICT Energy Efficiency Summit. Titled 'Green Sites, Building an Intelligent Future,' this forum will offer frameworks for low-carbon, green networks. Discussions will include carbon reduction, cost savings, and evolving regulatory support. Phillip Gan, President of Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, noted the region's rapid digital progress. He cited key national strategies like Saudi Arabia's 10Gbps Society and the UAE's AI strategy. He emphasized that 5G-A and AI offer telecom operators the chance to evolve into full-spectrum technology providers. The three forums reflect Huawei's ongoing commitment to supporting operators through network upgrades, innovation, and sustainable operations. The SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit 2025 will gather policy, business, and regulatory leaders from South Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. This year's theme is 'Intelligent & Sustainable Transformation of Digital Economies.' The event will highlight the need for smart, sustainable solutions to accelerate digital growth in SAMENA Council's strategic markets.
