Led by moderator Zakaria Chouaib, Managing Director Africa & Middle East, TMT & Infrastructure Lead, PMP Strategy, the 17th edition of the Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit presented the opening panel entitled: ‘The ICT Leaders Keeping Up with the Fast Technological Evolution.’
The expert panelists included industry giants such as:
- Seizo Onoe — Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU
- Fahad Al Hassawi — CEO, du
- Hani El Kukhun — CEO MEA, Beyond ONE (Virgin Mobile MEA)
- Talal Al Mamari — CEO, Omantel
- Tony Geheran — EVP and COO, TELUS
- Andrew Feinberg — Chairman and CEO, Netcracker Technology
These industry leaders shared insights on the importance of effective strategies and leveraging emerging technologies, specifically 5G. They highlighted their key viewpoints; emphasizing the significance of agility, innovation, and customer-centric approaches in today's ever-changing ICT landscape.
Highlighting that 2.6 billion people across the world still lack access to the Internet in 2023, Seizo Onoe stressed that the ICT industry is poised to play a transformative role in bridging the digital divide gap. He said some of ITU’s initiatives, such as The Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition are collaborating with more than 400 companies and organizations. This collaboration has led to commitments exceeding USD 36 billion for connectivity projects worldwide.
Commenting on the importance of early investment in 5G technology, Fahad Al Hassawi said building the right infrastructure is the backbone of any successful digital transformation journey. He said that both operators in the UAE have been reaping the benefits of being the early adopters of 5G and fulfilling the various connectivity needs of the people and businesses.
Elaborating on the recent acquisition of Virgin Mobile, Hani El Kukhun expressed the company's vision to reach a subscriber base of 100 million within the next three years. “We are participating in a race of acquisitions across emerging markets,” he explained.
Talal Al Mamari emphasized the importance of cultivating the ICT ecosystem, fostering the acceleration of startups across diverse sectors, and fostering collaborations with hyperscalers. This collaborative approach is designed to address the digital needs of both enterprise and consumer markets.
Tony Geheran underscored the significance of timely advancements in building core network technology, national mobile networks, and engaging with ICT communities and customers. This strategic focus aims to enable the delivery of next-generation services, fostering differentiation in the offerings provided by the company.
Andrew Feinberg said that the “rate of change is exponential, and our products need to reflect that.” He emphasized the critical role of a future-proof architecture that supports the industry. Highlighting the importance of fundamental aspects such as non-negotiable security and flexibility, he emphasized that these assurances are integral to an ICT architecture that ensures continuous connectivity, a necessity in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape.
The panel discussion highlighted the importance of ICT strategies in the digital landscape, emphasizing the need for timely and effective strategies to ensure organizational success. Effective ICT strategies enable businesses to adapt to emerging technologies and market trends, positioning them as leaders in their respective sectors. Leaders play a crucial role in driving innovation and progress within the industry, inspiring and guiding their teams. The discussion also delved into the potential of 5G technology to create multiple revenue streams. The speed, capacity, and low latency of 5G networks were identified as key factors that are needed for opening up new and diverse opportunities for businesses.