Industry Thought Leadership

As the digital landscape continues to evolve across the South Asia, Middle East, and North Africa (SA-ME-NA) region, the SAMENA Council plays an instrumental role in advancing the region’s digital transformation. With a core mission focused on fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders, supporting the private sector, and contributing to both regional and global digital goals, the SAMENA Council ensures the responsible deployment of advanced technologies, while highlighting the critical role of telecom operators, promoting the need for sustainable investments, and showcasing the growing leadership of the GCC in digital innovation. Key regional regulatory bodies and telecom operators, including the TDRA (UAE), CST (Saudi Arabia), TRA (Oman), TRA (Bahrain), CRA (Qatar), CITRA (Kuwait), TRC (Jordan), BTK (Turkey), PTA (Pakistan), and NTRA (Egypt), among others, are crucial partners and enablers in the Council’s efforts to support the region’s digital growth.

A primary focus of the SAMENA Council is promoting industry collaboration and sustainable growth. By acting as a facilitator of dialogue and partnership among telecom operators, technology innovators, and regulators, the Council creates spaces for constructive discussions around digital infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and the adoption of next-generation technologies.

A primary focus of the SAMENA Council is promoting industry collaboration and sustainable growth. By acting as a facilitator of dialogue and partnership among telecom operators, technology innovators, and regulators, the Council creates spaces for constructive discussions around digital infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and the adoption of next-generation technologies. This collaborative approach ensures that the digital growth of the region remains both sustainable and inclusive, addressing the diverse needs of ecosystem partners, from private companies to governmental bodies. SAMENA’s alignment with global digital development goals reflects its commitment to fostering a digital ecosystem that benefits not just the region, but also the broader global community.

The SA-ME-NA region has made significant strides in the adoption of 5G technology, with plans already underway for 5G-Advanced, especially in relation to AI and FWA, and 6G developments – expected over the next five years. In this rapidly evolving environment, the SAMENA Council advocates for the responsible and efficient deployment of these cutting-edge technologies, including AI, while keeping sustainability at the forefront of its priorities. This advocacy is in direct alignment with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The Council’s work ensures that advanced technologies are leveraged to drive long-term regional development, inclusion, and sustainability, enabling a future-proof digital infrastructure that should serve the diverse needs of the population and businesses alike.

The private sector remains a powerful driver of digital transformation in the SA-ME-NA region. Through its initiatives, the SAMENA Council seeks to foster an environment that encourages business growth, promotes investment in digital infrastructure, and shapes policies that support innovation. Engaging with both public and private sector stakeholders, the Council plays a key role in ensuring that the regulatory environment facilitates the growth of a competitive digital economy. This collaboration is also a catalyst for fostering entrepreneurship, aligning with global initiatives such as those of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to encourage digital innovation and business resilience. By working together with stakeholders across various sectors, the SAMENA Council helps ensure that businesses of all sizes are empowered to navigate the demands of an interconnected world.

Through its initiatives, the SAMENA Council seeks to foster an environment that encourages business growth, promotes investment in digital infrastructure, and shapes policies that support innovation. Engaging with both public and private sector stakeholders, the Council plays a key role in ensuring that the regulatory environment facilitates the growth of a competitive digital economy. This collaboration is also a catalyst for fostering entrepreneurship, aligning with global initiatives such as those of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to encourage digital innovation and business resilience.

The Council’s role extends beyond regional boundaries as it creates international collaboration platforms while also actively participating in international forums and discussions, advocating for global digital development goals. By promoting policies that focus on digital inclusion, the digital divide, and the importance of cross-border partnerships, the SAMENA Council aligns its efforts with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), supporting international collaboration in the digital space. Through this approach, the Council fosters cross-border knowledge-sharing, ensuring that the benefits of digital transformation are both inclusive and equitable, bridging gaps between developed and developing regions alike.

One of the key regions being showcased for its leadership in digital transformation is the GCC, where the Council continues to highlight the pioneering efforts of nations such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and others, and spotlighting the GCC’s advancements in e-government, ICT infrastructure, telecom innovation, and the regulatory frameworks that support them.

The Council’s signature initiative, the Leaders’ Summit, created and sustained over the years though partnership with the UAE’s TDRA, Huawei, and its board members, serves as a platform for in-depth discussions on digital transformation. Through such leadership platforms, the SAMENA Council ensures that the GCC’s digital achievements are celebrated not only within the region but internationally, helping to position the region as a leader in digital governance, telecom infrastructure, and innovation. that the SA-ME-NA region is well-positioned to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities of the digital age, paving the way for an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable future for all.

The SA-ME-NA region is well-positioned to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities of the digital age, paving the way for an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable future for all. It does, however, require accelerated collaboration, to ensure regional digital advancements are in harmony with sustainable development goals. By supporting the private sector, advocating for enabling digital policies, and contributing to global digital discussions, the region can tangibly contribute meaningfully to global digital and sustainable development, especially as it strives to be a key digital hub of the world.