Reports and Coverage

By Neil Templeton, SVP, Console Connect

As a wrap-up to the 17th edition of Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit, Telecom Review Group organized its Excellence Awards ceremony to recognize exceptional global and regional companies, along with industry leaders, for their innovative initiatives and influential contributions throughout 2023.

Upon its initial release in 2019, 5G was heralded as the upcoming breakthrough in technology the world needed, poised to transform lifestyles and professional endeavours. Subsequently, the user base for 5G has skyrocketed to surpass one billion, establishing itself as the fastest-growing mobile communications technology on a global scale. Moving forward, 5G represents a significant step in achieving key objectives like smart cities, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and the applications of artificial intelligence (AI).

Marking a promising beginning to the new year, e& Carrier & Wholesale achieved several noteworthy milestones at the Capacity Middle East 2024 event. A series of collaborations with operators, subsea cable partners as well as launches of innovative services have been announced. Amidst this progress, a momentous celebration took place during the Grand Gala Dinner.

85% of IT leaders foresee a boost in developer productivity following the implementation of AI within the next three years. Despite this positive outlook, 62% admit that their organizations are currently not prepared to synchronize data systems for full AI utilization, adding strain to their teams.

Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind the regenerative tourism destinations— The Red Sea and AMAALA— has announced that its flagship destination boasts world-beating mobile internet speeds.

Saudi Arabia has once again emerged as the frontrunner in the Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index for 2023, as per the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). Holding onto its top position for the second consecutive year, the Kingdom achieved an impressive maturity score of 93 percent across the board.

Telecom providers across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have long faced barriers which prevent the widespread adoption of cloud computing technologies. However, as these obstacles gradually diminish and cloud solutions become more accessible, the moment is opportune for these firms to initiate a transformative voyage, capitalizing on the substantial financial advantages offered by cloud technology.

The latest industry intelligence findings show that in 2023, there was an increase in sophisticated attacks on networking devices, particularly by state-sponsored actors for espionage objectives to facilitate stealthy operations. The report notes that the actors exploited network vulnerabilities and weak access credentials, with three of the five most targeted device vulnerabilities being critical or severe.

By Sulaiman Al-Faifi, VP of Information Services and Applications, Salam