On the sidelines of The Global Ultra-Broadband Forum (UBBF) 2023, distinguished industry figures such as Mr. Bocar BA, CEO of SAMENA Telecommunications Council, and H.E. Eng. Mohamed Ben Amor, Director General of AICTO, provided regional perspectives and visions to accelerate the transition to 10 Giga Digital Infrastructure.
The captivating panel discussion titled “Empowering a Resilient and Sustainable Digital Economy with 10 Giga Digital Infrastructure” zeroed in on the acceleration of 10-Gigabit network expansion in the Middle East and Central Asia. The discussion encompassed policy imperatives, key stakeholders, the potential for open collaboration, and the numerous benefits offered by 10-gigabit digital infrastructure. This panel occurred concurrently with the 9th iteration of the Ultra-Broadband Forum (UBBF 2023) in Dubai, co-hosted by the SAMENA Council.
The panel featured notable individuals, including Cevat Yerli, CEO of TMRW Foundation; Alex Lee, Managing Director UAE, China Mobile International; Mohammed Bin Ali, Acting Director, Telecommunications Directorate, Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication, Bahrain; and Lin Yanqing, Principal Consultant, Industry Policy Public & Government Affairs, Huawei Technologies.
The Global Ultra-Broadband Forum (UBBF) 2023, organized by Huawei and supported by the UN Broadband Commission, served as a dynamic platform for collaboration among global telecommunications providers, industry partners, standards associations, regulatory bodies, and leaders in various sectors. This forum was convened with the primary objective of promoting productivity-centric Ultra-Broadband (UBB) target networks within the realm of intelligent connectivity, with a specific focus on optimizing UBB network performance and fully unlocking its potential.
Under the overarching theme of “Fostering Intelligence for a New Era of Growth,” the forum facilitated the exchange of technological insights, the exploration of innovative experiences, and the unification of industry stakeholders in propelling the transition to a more intelligent world.
The UBB sector has witnessed significant advancements in standards and technology research in recent years. The proliferation of artificial intelligence has generated an ever-growing demand for UBB networks capable of delivering immersive intelligent services. UBBF, a recurrent fixture in the fixed network industry, continues to play a pivotal role in this transformation.
Lin Yanqing, representing Huawei, said, “5.5G marks the evolution of the 5G ecosystem, offering a tenfold improvement in network performance, enabling 10 Gbps experiences, accommodating 100 billion connections, and integrating native intelligence into services. Huawei’s vision for a ‘Gigabit Society’ leverages technology to ensure pervasive connectivity, unlocking growth and innovation across the Middle East and Central Asia.”
Bocar A. Ba, CEO of SAMENA Telecommunications Council, underscored the significance of securing capital to support 5G-Advanced and bridging connectivity gaps in underserved regions. The SAMENA LEAD awards recognized key contributors to 5G development.
Huawei’s vision aligns with the belief that ultra-broadband networks are the cornerstone of intelligent communities and businesses in this era. The company is dedicated to crafting an intelligent world, grounded in robust connectivity, necessitating extensive digital infrastructure.
A 10 Gbps network is the bedrock of a 10-Gigabit city, enabling efficient interconnection of high-quality enterprise campus networks, linking offices, production units, and business branches. The adoption of Wi-Fi 7 technologies ensures 10GE wireless access to access points and 10GE wired access to various premises.
The UBBF emphasized the swift shift toward an intelligent transformation and the imperative for UBB networks to evolve in tune with the times. The forthcoming chapter is the UBB5.5G era, characterized by intelligent connectivity.
Some Middle Eastern nations are leading the charge into the Gigabit and 10 Giga era. Governments wield significant influence in shaping telecom infrastructure guidelines, fostering cooperation, and driving the promotion of standards to expedite progress.
This forum marked a milestone in the dialogue surrounding the shift towards digital infrastructure that supports the digital economy and sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the region.
In parallel, during the 9th Ultra-Broadband Forum (UBBF 2023), Huawei’s David Wang delivered a keynote on “UBB5.5G Maximizes Digital Productivity.” He emphasized the evolving landscape of ultra-broadband (UBB) and its role in boosting digital productivity.
The growth of digital productivity, driven by the integration of digital technologies into the real economy, is transforming the digital landscape. Technologies like cloud, AI, 5G, and UBB are now enabling faster digital transformation in enterprises and enhancing entertainment, life, and work experiences for the masses. This adoption of new services is compounding advances in digital productivity.
Wang highlighted that UBB networks have evolved from delivering connectivity to enhancing user experiences. In the 5.5G era, UBB will focus on unleashing the productivity of digital services, providing ubiquitous 10-gigabit access, elastic ultra-broadband transport, and powerful computing through hyper-converged data centers. This next-gen digital infrastructure will accelerate the digital economy’s development, with Huawei collaborating to drive the industry forward.
To maximize digital productivity, three critical challenges must be overcome: supporting massive computing power for digital services, ensuring connectivity for numerous concurrent users, and delivering high-quality access from anywhere.
Ubiquitous 10-gigabit access will be achieved through upgrades in mobile and home broadband, enterprise networks, and private line services. Converged bearer networks will support 400G and 800G for high-quality, elastic transport. Hyper-converged data centers will unleash AI computing power and enhance ROI, while autonomous telecom models will optimize networks and enhance human-computer interaction.
Wang emphasized that UBB is a critical infrastructure that drives digital economic growth. Collaboration among ecosystem players, policy support, business innovation, and ecosystem development are essential for UBB’s continued progress and the maximization of digital productivity for individuals and organizations.
