SAMENA Telecommunications Council

CEO SAMENA Council Mr Bocar Ba, during the SAMENA ACCELERATOR on 10Giga, received recognition from HE DG Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, Eng. Majed Al Mesmar, for his relentless efforts to bring industry leaders together, fostering impactful cooperation, and catalysing industry initiatives, locally, regionally, and internationally. #10GigaAccelerator

The 15th Global Mobile Broadband Forum (MBBF 2024) has kicked off in Istanbul under the theme "5.5G Leads Mobile AI Era." Over 1,000 industry leaders and experts have gathered to discuss the convergence of 5.5G and intelligent applications, a milestone that brings both the commercial launch of 5.5G and the rapid expansion of AI into everyday life. Huawei’s Rotating Chairman, Ken Hu, opened the forum by highlighting AI’s transformative potential: "AI will change everything. Mobile networks and devices will make AI accessible anytime, anywhere." Huawei's Senior VP, Li Peng, emphasized the new growth opportunities in the Mobile AI era, including reshaping services, networks, and business models. Attendees can experience boutique exhibitions of AI-powered devices and applications for people, homes, industries, and vehicles, demonstrating the unique connectivity capabilities of 5.5G networks. Supported by GSMA and GTI, MBBF 2024 represents a pivotal step in realizing the full potential of 5.5G as we enter the Mobile AI era. #MBBF2024 #5.5G #AI #MobileAI #Huawei

Nokia has announced that Viettel, Vietnam’s largest service provider, will deploy its optical transport solution to meet the rising demand for 5G, data center interconnect (DCI), and cross-border connectivity. Following a successful trial using Nokia’s PSE-6s, which achieved a record-breaking optical transmission speed of 1.2Tb/s per wavelength, the deployment will enhance Viettel’s network capacity and energy efficiency across key metropolitan areas, including Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, by 2025. Nokia's solution, powered by its innovative PSE-6s super-coherent optical engine, enables seamless scalability with support for 3 x 800GE or 6 x 400GE services on a single line card, while scaling total network capacity up to 38.4Tb/s over the C-band. This deployment will reduce Viettel’s network power consumption by up to 60%, preparing the service provider for the demands of 5G and cloud-based applications. Nguyen Van Yen, Head of Viettel Regional Transmission, emphasized the success of the partnership: “The smooth execution of the record-breaking trial convinced us that Nokia was the right partner for this crucial initiative.” Nokia’s Head of Optical Networks, Vito Di Maria, highlighted the importance of scalable optical networks to address growing data demands effectively. #Nokia #Viettel #5G #OpticalTransport #Telecommunications

Cisco has unveiled new additions to its data center infrastructure portfolio, designed to simplify and accelerate AI adoption. With the new AI server family and AI PODs, Cisco provides organizations with scalable, secure solutions for deploying GPU-intensive AI workloads with NVIDIA accelerated computing. As part of Cisco’s commitment to empowering customers in the age of AI, these solutions are managed by Cisco Intersight, providing centralized control and automation for seamless operations. Jeetu Patel, Chief Product Officer, highlights the pressing need for enterprises to implement AI, saying, “AI will soon be central to how organizations solve challenges. Cisco’s AI PODs and GPU servers bring the needed security and processing power to support this evolution.” Cisco’s AI infrastructure solutions are developed to break down barriers to AI adoption, ensuring customers can scale up without complexity. The new UCS C885A M8 servers, purpose-built for GPU-intensive tasks, deliver robust, zero-trust security with NVIDIA BlueField-3 DPUs. Industry leaders such as NVIDIA, Presidio, and CDW are already leveraging these solutions to support AI growth securely and efficiently. #AI #DataCenter #Cisco #Innovation #DigitalTransformation

At the 8th Edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, stc Group strengthened its commitment to sustainability and innovation by welcoming three key partners to its Sustainability Champions program. Under the theme “Infinite Horizons: Investing Today, Shaping Tomorrow,” stc Group announced partnerships with: Alat: A Public Investment Fund (PIF) company advancing global industries with a focus on clean energy, creating a world-class manufacturing hub in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group Academy: The Middle East’s largest private healthcare provider, dedicated to expanding healthcare and technology solutions across Saudi Arabia and the UAE. solutions by stc: A leading provider of integrated ICT solutions, enabling digital transformation across public and private sectors in Saudi Arabia. The CEOs of Alat, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, and solutions by stc signed pledges to join the Sustainability Champions Program, which aligns with FII’s goal to tackle global challenges through sustainable growth. stc Group will support these companies by assessing their sustainability baselines and helping to create roadmaps to elevate their practices, promoting long-term positive impact in the private sector. stc Group’s recognition among the top 20 Saudi companies in corporate sustainability underscores its dedication to leading sustainable transformation in the Kingdom. #FII2024 #Sustainability #DigitalTransformation #SaudiVision2030 #stcGroup

e& has reported impressive Q3 2024 results, with consolidated revenue reaching AED 14.4 billion, a 10% year-over-year growth in constant currency, and an overall revenue of AED 42.7 billion for the first nine months, reflecting sustained growth across key verticals. This momentum aligns with e&'s ambition to transition into a global technology leader, demonstrated by its recent acquisition of PPF Telecom, expanding its telecom footprint to 38 markets and its reach to over 1 billion people. Group CEO Hatem Dowidar highlighted the impact of e&’s strategic investments and partnerships, including a $1 billion alliance with AWS to advance cloud-driven innovation across the Middle East and a partnership with the UNDP to foster digital inclusion and sustainability. In addition, e& UAE’s launch of AI-powered autonomous stores and fibre-to-the-room services reflects its commitment to cutting-edge customer experience in the UAE. e&’s reach spans a growing consumer base of 177.3 million, driven by robust digital services in fintech, media, and enterprise solutions, with achievements in platforms like Careem and STARZ ON. With initiatives in AI, cloud, and digital infrastructure, e& continues to shape the future of digital transformation, propelling secure and sustainable progress across its markets. #eand #FinancialResults #DigitalTransformation #CloudInnovation #SustainableGrowth

The 15th annual Global Mobile Broadband Forum is being held in Istanbul, hosted by Huawei alongside industry partners. This year the MBBF featured the 3rd Meeting of the ELITE FWA Club, created in 2023 with the strategic support of the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, a meeting point for leaders in Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) innovation. In his keynote address, Mr. Bocar Ba, the CEO of SAMENA Telecommunications Council and Honorary President of the ELITE FWA Club shared valuable insights on the role of FWA in advancing digital inclusion. He noted the successful commercial use of 5G FWA by GCC operators and highlighted the need for continued collaboration among ELITE FWA Club members. By proactively allowing for the exchange of insights and deployment experiences, the Club aims to enhance efficiencies across sectors, driving innovation and accelerating digital transformation through 5G use cases. #HWMBBF #5GFWA #DigitalTransformation

Huawei is honored to join Milipol Qatar 2024, the premier event for homeland security and civil defense, to showcase its latest advancements under the theme “Amplifying Intelligence with Security.” With over 30 years of experience in innovative technology solutions, Huawei remains a trusted partner in digital transformation and cybersecurity across 170 countries. At Milipol, Huawei’s booth (M040) features breakthrough technologies, including the Smart City Intelligent Operations Center and Major Event Assurance Solution, both aimed at enhancing urban resilience and efficiency. Also debuting in Qatar is Huawei’s IdeaPresence, a 138-inch 4K immersive display designed for secure, seamless collaboration, alongside the Pangu Government Model, which leverages AI to streamline city management through real-time insights. Dr. Aloysius Cheang, Huawei’s Chief Security Officer for ME & CA Region, will share insights at the Cybersecurity Summit on addressing today’s complex security threats. Together with partners like Mekdam Holding, Huawei is helping build a sustainable, resilient digital ecosystem that meets evolving security needs. #MilipolQatar2024 #SmartCities #Cybersecurity #Huawei

Yango Maps has introduced a real-time public transportation feature in Dubai, allowing users to view live locations of buses and marine transport on the map, thanks to RTA’s open data policy. This feature, accessible through the “Transport” tab, lets users see their exact bus or ferry location and track routes by entering the bus number in the search field. Additionally, estimated arrival times at each station ensure commuters can plan around Dubai’s hot weather without waiting unnecessarily. With over 173.5 million bus passengers recorded in Dubai in 2023 and a further 7.5% increase in bus journeys during the first half of 2024, demand for efficient transport solutions has never been higher. Yango Maps CEO Alexander Baksheev emphasizes the company’s commitment to supporting this trend by offering innovative tools that improve daily navigation. With Yango Maps, users benefit from real-time traffic updates, camera alerts, and turn-by-turn guidance, helping Dubai residents move through the city with ease. #UrbanMobility #YangoMaps #SmartCity #DubaiTransport #RTA

Derq, the leader in AI-powered intelligent transportation systems, has secured strategic investments from e& capital, the venture arm of UAE-based global tech group e&, and AT&T Ventures, the venture arm of telecommunications giant AT&T. These investments will support Derq’s expansion across the US, GCC, and beyond, while accelerating product development and enhancing their intellectual property portfolio. Kushal Shah, Managing Director of e& capital, highlighted Derq's alignment with their strategy to invest in groundbreaking companies: “By backing Derq, we are investing in a company at the forefront of intelligent transportation technology and contributing to solutions that will benefit communities worldwide. Their AI-powered solutions create safer and smarter road networks.” Vikram Taneja, Head of AT&T Ventures, echoed this vision, stating that Derq’s innovations will help shape more connected, efficient infrastructure. With over 25 deployments across 16 U.S. states, Derq’s platform leverages AI, IoT, and connected technologies to deliver real-time road safety insights and advanced traffic management tools. Derq CEO Dr. Georges Aoude noted, “We are well-positioned to lead the charge toward safer, more efficient roads.” #IntelligentTransportation #AI #Innovation #TransportationSafety #SmartCities #IoT