5G-Advanced is already underway
Published: 02:05 PM,May 14,2024 | EDITED : 06:05 PM,May 14,2024
Image for representation only.
I had the privilege to attend the annual SAMENA Telecommunications Council’s Leaders’ Summit 2024 at Atlantis – The Palm in Dubai, UAE. Held under the theme “Evolving toward Integration, Intelligence & Sustainability in Infrastructure”, the annual international industry-leadership meeting brought together over 20 telecom regulators, more than 30 regional telecom operators and carriers, and more than 300 industry leaders, policymakers, industry associations, and leading global technology firms.
The event hosted critical discussions on topics like leading the 5G-A (5G advanced) era, digital transformation, and new spectrum opportunities, highlighting the region’s strategic drive to move towards a more prosperous intelligent world.
It’s no secret that digitalization or digital transformation is accelerating across the Middle East, and many economies, including Oman, are experiencing a paradigm shift marked by unmatched productivity and never-seen-before innovations. I was particularly excited about the upcoming 5G-A era as this evolution promises to redefine the landscape of information and communications technology (ICT) across the region.
As we know, the rollout of 5G has marked a revolutionary shift in connectivity, with around 28 networks launched across the Middle East and Central Asia since 2019. These technologies are not just improving mobile broadband speeds but also play a pivotal role in supporting emerging applications such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Augmented Reality (AR). They have facilitated many advancements, from building smart city infrastructures to achieving industrial automation, which has been critical in driving the digital economy forward.
At the SAMENA Leaders’ Summit, the 5G-A Leaders’ Forum discussed the evolution of 5G technology towards 5G-A. This revolutionary new technology will drive digital innovation and intelligence across the Middle East.
Dr. Sherif Ragaei Sherif, Sr. Strategist, Technology Strategy, Omantel, participated in a panel discussion on the topic of Business Success in the 5G-A Era, moderated by Dr. Mohamed Madkour, VP of ICT Marketing and Solution Sales at Huawei. Dr. Sherif highlighted that Oman laid the foundation for 5G in 2019, but the traffic increased quickly, paving the way for 5G-Advanced. He added that 5G-Advanced is not just a brand or a show but a necessity for Omantel’s business. He explained that it will help increase capacity and speed and improve efficiency.
With over 300 commercial 5G networks already deployed globally and advancements continuing, the transition from 5G to 5G-Advanced is poised to revolutionize network capabilities and user experiences. While 5G laid the groundwork for faster speeds and more reliable connections, 5G-Advanced is set to push these boundaries further, offering significant enhancements in terms of network efficiency, coverage, and performance.
The benefits of 5G and 5G-A technologies extend well beyond conventional telecommunications. They reshape consumer experiences by enabling high-bandwidth applications like seamless 3D video streaming and immersive AR/VR gaming experiences. On the business front, these technologies integrate features like enhanced video calling, real-time translation, and interactive user interfaces into services, thereby enriching digital interactions and opening new avenues for revenue in the digital services sector.
Huawei has been at the forefront of advancing 5G and 5G-A technologies in the Middle East and Central Asia. The company’s approach is comprehensive, involving significant investments in research and development — amounting to $23.4 billion in 2023 alone. This substantial investment in innovation is critical for developing solutions that meet the unique needs of the region and for driving the adoption of advanced network technologies.
At the 5G-A Leaders’ Forum, Cao Ming, President of Wireless Solution, Huawei, gave a speech and emphasized the importance of accelerating the development of 5G-A, which can help the digital economy reach a new level. He said, “5G-A is not just a step forward; it is a key milestone on the path to the future. With everyone's joint efforts, we believe 5G-A will build the foundation for a fully connected, intelligent world.” James Chen, President of Huawei's Carrier Sales Department, also emphasized the critical role of 5G and 5G-A in bringing social and economic prosperity. Speaking at the event, he congratulated the Middle East region on becoming the global leader in 5G-A commercialization and stated, “ICT is becoming a general-purpose platform in the intelligent world. 5G and 5G-A are at the core of this development, bringing prosperity to all.” The SAMENA Leaders’ Summit buttressed the critical industry discussions on the commercial process of 5G-A and generally recognized that 2024 is the first year of commercial use of 5G-A.
Exciting developments ahead and yes I will continue sharing these to you periodically.
The event hosted critical discussions on topics like leading the 5G-A (5G advanced) era, digital transformation, and new spectrum opportunities, highlighting the region’s strategic drive to move towards a more prosperous intelligent world.
It’s no secret that digitalization or digital transformation is accelerating across the Middle East, and many economies, including Oman, are experiencing a paradigm shift marked by unmatched productivity and never-seen-before innovations. I was particularly excited about the upcoming 5G-A era as this evolution promises to redefine the landscape of information and communications technology (ICT) across the region.
As we know, the rollout of 5G has marked a revolutionary shift in connectivity, with around 28 networks launched across the Middle East and Central Asia since 2019. These technologies are not just improving mobile broadband speeds but also play a pivotal role in supporting emerging applications such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Augmented Reality (AR). They have facilitated many advancements, from building smart city infrastructures to achieving industrial automation, which has been critical in driving the digital economy forward.
At the SAMENA Leaders’ Summit, the 5G-A Leaders’ Forum discussed the evolution of 5G technology towards 5G-A. This revolutionary new technology will drive digital innovation and intelligence across the Middle East.
Dr. Sherif Ragaei Sherif, Sr. Strategist, Technology Strategy, Omantel, participated in a panel discussion on the topic of Business Success in the 5G-A Era, moderated by Dr. Mohamed Madkour, VP of ICT Marketing and Solution Sales at Huawei. Dr. Sherif highlighted that Oman laid the foundation for 5G in 2019, but the traffic increased quickly, paving the way for 5G-Advanced. He added that 5G-Advanced is not just a brand or a show but a necessity for Omantel’s business. He explained that it will help increase capacity and speed and improve efficiency.
With over 300 commercial 5G networks already deployed globally and advancements continuing, the transition from 5G to 5G-Advanced is poised to revolutionize network capabilities and user experiences. While 5G laid the groundwork for faster speeds and more reliable connections, 5G-Advanced is set to push these boundaries further, offering significant enhancements in terms of network efficiency, coverage, and performance.
The benefits of 5G and 5G-A technologies extend well beyond conventional telecommunications. They reshape consumer experiences by enabling high-bandwidth applications like seamless 3D video streaming and immersive AR/VR gaming experiences. On the business front, these technologies integrate features like enhanced video calling, real-time translation, and interactive user interfaces into services, thereby enriching digital interactions and opening new avenues for revenue in the digital services sector.
Huawei has been at the forefront of advancing 5G and 5G-A technologies in the Middle East and Central Asia. The company’s approach is comprehensive, involving significant investments in research and development — amounting to $23.4 billion in 2023 alone. This substantial investment in innovation is critical for developing solutions that meet the unique needs of the region and for driving the adoption of advanced network technologies.
At the 5G-A Leaders’ Forum, Cao Ming, President of Wireless Solution, Huawei, gave a speech and emphasized the importance of accelerating the development of 5G-A, which can help the digital economy reach a new level. He said, “5G-A is not just a step forward; it is a key milestone on the path to the future. With everyone's joint efforts, we believe 5G-A will build the foundation for a fully connected, intelligent world.” James Chen, President of Huawei's Carrier Sales Department, also emphasized the critical role of 5G and 5G-A in bringing social and economic prosperity. Speaking at the event, he congratulated the Middle East region on becoming the global leader in 5G-A commercialization and stated, “ICT is becoming a general-purpose platform in the intelligent world. 5G and 5G-A are at the core of this development, bringing prosperity to all.” The SAMENA Leaders’ Summit buttressed the critical industry discussions on the commercial process of 5G-A and generally recognized that 2024 is the first year of commercial use of 5G-A.
Exciting developments ahead and yes I will continue sharing these to you periodically.