SAMENA Telecommunications Council Honors 34 Telecom Operators and Regulators for Digital Development Leadership
At the prestigious GITEX Global 2024 in Dubai, the SAMENA Telecommunications Council held the second edition of its Digital Development Excellence and Leadership Awards, recognizing 34 telecom operators and regulators across South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia for their contributions to innovation, business excellence, and digital leadership. The awards spotlighted advancements in areas such as 5G network deployment, broadband infrastructure, cloud transformation, and mobile financial services.
The honorees were celebrated for their role in advancing next-generation technologies, including 5G-A (advanced fifth generation), fiber optic networks, and fixed wireless access, with particular emphasis on regulatory frameworks that have enabled this progress. The event also acknowledged leadership in implementing IP and IPv6-Advanced solutions, fostering industry growth, and promoting child online protection.
SAMENA Council’s CEO, Boukar Ba, highlighted the significance of these awards in recognizing the achievements of key players in the ICT sector. He emphasized the collaborative efforts necessary to further regional social and economic development through technological innovation and investment.
Richard Liu, President of Global ICT Solutions Marketing and Sales at Huawei, presented a series of awards during the event. Liu commended the region’s governments for their leadership in driving the deployment of 5G networks and fostering digital transformation, affirming Huawei’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with operators, regulators, and stakeholders to bolster the region’s global ICT standing.
Since 2018, the region has emerged as a global leader in 5G deployment, with regulators and telecom operators alike pushing the boundaries of technology to create customer-focused solutions and enhance market growth. Liu acknowledged the pivotal role regional telecom companies are playing in advancing artificial intelligence and digital transformation, contributing to the region's economic growth and paving the way for a sustainable digital economy.
