ME&CA’s Intelligent Revolution via Ultra-Broadband

In the Middle East and Central Asia (ME&CA), a burgeoning era of ultra-broadband technology is ushering in an intelligent world. The Global Ultra-Broadband Forum (UBBF) 2023, organized by Huawei with support from the UN Broadband Commission, emphasized the pivotal role of governments in propelling the gigabit era forward. By releasing guidelines for telecom infrastructure and industry standards covering various aspects of fiber connectivity, regulators can deepen digital transformation while promoting collaboration among telecom companies, infrastructure providers, developers, and local authorities.

Under the theme “Connecting Intelligence for New Growth,” UBBF 2023 brought together global carriers, partners, standards organizations, regulators, and leaders from various industries to explore how to construct productivity-centric ultra-broadband networks in an age of intelligent connectivity. The discussions also delved into methods for enhancing ultra-broadband network performance to unlock their full potential.

Recognizing the remarkable progress made by ME&CA countries in advancing towards the Gigabit era and the forthcoming 10 Giga era, the forum highlighted the necessity of a digital infrastructure shift to bolster the region’s digital economy and fulfill sustainable development goals. This shift is particularly evident in regional cities like Riyadh, which are actively investigating ways to implement 10 Gbps City and 10 Gbps Society initiatives, thereby igniting new momentum in the digital economy.

The ultra-broadband (UBB) industry has made substantial strides in standard formulation and technology research over the past year. However, as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into our work and daily life, immersive and intelligent services are emerging as a primary driver for enhancing societal productivity. This places greater demands on UBB networks. To maintain this growth trajectory, Bocar BA, CEO and Board Member of SAMENA Telecommunications Council, stressed the importance of securing access to new capital for network transformation, particularly in preparation for 5G-Advanced, which is expected to bridge connectivity gaps in underserved areas and communities.

David Wang, Executive Director of the Board and Chairman of the ICT Infrastructure Managing Board at Huawei, observed the evolving landscape of broadband networks. While initially, ultra-broadband networks were primarily focused on providing connectivity, they have now shifted their focus toward delivering an enhanced user experience. In the upcoming 5.5G era, ultra-broadband will concentrate on maximizing the productivity of digital services, ensuring accessible and efficient access for all, regardless of location. This next-generation digital infrastructure will provide ubiquitous 10-gigabit access, flexible ultra-broadband transport, and significant computing power supported by hyper-converged data centers.

Wang, however, acknowledged several challenges that the industry must overcome before ultra-broadband can fully unlock digital productivity. These challenges include providing the massive computing power required for digital services, offering guaranteed connectivity for numerous concurrent users, and ensuring ubiquitous access and high-quality experiences for all individuals, regardless of their location.

Senior industry leaders convened in a panel discussion to address the policies and actions necessary to expedite the development of 10-gigabit networks across the Middle East and Central Asia. The panelists included Cevat Yerli, CEO of TMRW Foundation; Alex Lee, Managing Director UAE, China Mobile International; Mohammed Bin Ali, Acting Director of the Telecommunications Directorate at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication in Bahrain; Lin Yanqing, Principal Consultant at Huawei Technologies, and the discussion was moderated by Mr. Erik Almqvist, CEO of Sense Strategy.

Under the theme “10 Giga Digital Infrastructure for Accelerating a Robust & Sustainable Digital Economy,” the panel explored the policy prerequisites, key stakeholders, methods to facilitate collaborative efforts, and the advantages of a 10-gigabit digital infrastructure for the region’s digital economy and sustainable development goals.

A 10 Gbps network serves as a robust foundation for a 10-Gigabit city, and high-quality 10 Gbps enterprise campus networks can effectively interconnect corporate offices, production facilities, and branch offices. Employing Wi-Fi 7 technologies to provide 10-gigabit wireless access to access points and 10-gigabit wired access to rooms allows enterprises to maximize their productivity.

UBBF underscored the accelerated pace of intelligent transformation and emphasized that ultra-broadband networks, as the connectivity backbone of the intelligent world, must keep up with the evolving landscape through rapid iteration and innovation. The next step is transitioning into the UBB5.5G era, characterized by intelligent connectivity across all aspects of life.

Huawei envisions ultra-broadband networks as the foundational infrastructure for communities and businesses in the intelligent era. The company aims to go beyond simple internet connectivity and create an intelligent world founded on enhanced connectivity. This necessitates widespread digital infrastructure, including fiber and cloud resources, as well as a vast digital ecosystem to support the billions of new connections that the future holds.