Volume 09, December, 2018 A SAMENA Telecommunications Council Newsletter www.samenacouncil.org SAMENA TRENDS EXCLUSIVELY FOR SAMENA TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL'S MEMBERS BUILDING DIGITAL ECONOMIES Expresso Telecom Group: What are the Blockchain Opportunities in Telecom? 43 PCCW Global: Blockchain Disruption in the Telecoms Industry 56 Interview Oman Broadband: Eng. Nasser Bin Sulaiman Al Nasser Fibre is King 72 Group CEO STC THIS MONTH BLOCKCHAIN AND TELECOM OPERATORS Etisalat’s One-stop shop with 12 partners to start your business Visit the first-in-the-region one-stop shop to cater to all your business needs whether you are a startup or an existing business. Through our 12 partners, we offer services ranging from company registration, licensing, banking, insurance, office leasing, VAT consultancy, office furniture, telecommunication services and more. Visit us at the 2nd floor, One JLT Building, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai. 8001HUB | etisalat.ae/hellobusinesshub VOLUME 09, DECEMBER, 2018 Contributing Editors Contributing Members Subscriptions Izhar Ahmad Bubbletone [email protected] SAMENA Javaid Akhtar Malik Expresso Telecom Group Nokia Advertising TRENDS Oman Broadband [email protected] PCCW Global Editor-in-Chief SAMENA TRENDS Bocar A. BA Publisher [email protected] SAMENA Telecommunications Tel: +971.4.364.2700 Council CONTENTS INTERVIEW 05 EDITORIAL 12 REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES Members News Regional News 59 SATELLITE UPDATES Satellite News 69 WHOLESALE UPDATES Wholesale News 74 TECHNOLOGY UPDATES The SAMENA TRENDS newsletter is wholly Technology News owned and operated by The SAMENA Telecommunications Council (SAMENA 82 Council). Information in the newsletter is not REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES Regulatory News 05 Eng. Nasser Bin Sulaiman intended as professional services advice, and SAMENA Council disclaims any liability for Al Nasser use of specific information or results thereof. A Snapshot of Regulatory Group CEO Activities in the SAMENA Region Articles and information contained in this STC publication are the copyright of SAMENA Regulatory Activities Telecommunications Council, (unless 10 SAMENA Council otherwise noted, described or stated) and Beyond the SAMENA Region cannot be reproduced, copied or printed Activity in any form without the express written ARTICLES - SAMENA Council permission of the publisher. Emphasizes on Spectrum 43 What are the Blockchain The SAMENA Council does not necessari- Opportunities in Telecom? Harmonization and Endorses ly endorse, support, sanction, encourage, Operators’ Support to Saudi verify or agree with the content, comments, 56 Blockchain Disruption in the 5G Public-Policy Vision opinions or statements made in The SAME- NA TRENDS by any entity or entities. Infor- Telecoms Industry mation, products and services offered, sold - Paltel Group Joins Leading or placed in the newsletter by other than The 67 Software Enabling 5G Operators to Promote SAMENA Council belong to the respective en- its Digital Readiness as a tity or entities and are not representative of 72 Fibre is King SAMENA Council Member The SAMENA Council. The SAMENA Council hereby expressly disclaims any and all war- ranties, expressed and implied, including 80 Blockchain-based Platform and but not limited to any warranties of accura- its Opportunities for Telecom cy, reliability, merchantability or fitness for a Operators particular purpose by any entity or entities offering information, products and services in this newsletter. The user agrees that The SAMENA Council is not responsible, and shall have no liability to such user, with respect to any information, product or service offered by any entity or entities in this newsletter. The SAMENA Council’s only liability in the event of errors shall be the correction or removal of the erroneous information after verification. CONTENTS© 2018 - All rights reserved. SAMENA TRENDS is a trademark of SAMENA Telecommunications Council. EDITORIAL SAMENA TRENDS Blockchain and Telecom Operators Industry predictions are pointing to a fast to publish prepaid plans as smart contracts space-occupying new technology: Blockhain. on a blockchain, which are visible to all Some predict this to be an industry of its other operators and their subscribers. When own, with a growth potential exceeding US$1 subscriber selects offer, a new smart contract billion over the coming few years. The inherent is created with the subscriber`s digital security features provided by this storming identity and payment transaction directly to new technology are perhaps the best reason foreign operator. This is an immensely useful why its onslaught is being welcomed within application of blockchain for meeting end- the industries, including the telecoms. user requirements with business efficiency and revenue needs of operators, as well as Just as with any other technology, standard- reduced complexities for regulators in matters ized and mass-scale adoption of blockchain of cross-border communications. depends on regulatory approvals, which, in Bocar A. BA turn, can only be achieved with clear under- In the smart environment we are creating, Chief Executive Officer & Board standing of the use and benefits of blockchain. blockchain implementation will be effective for Member In this regard, to gain a better picture of how addressing issues that have historically been SAMENA Telecommunications blockchain could be useful for Telecom Op- a challenge for telecom operators in conduct- Council erators (some of which having already start- ing third-party settlements, in timely authen- ed its implementation), and how Regulators ticating and provisioning service contracts can support and also use it for achieving their with their customers, and in achieving better own objectives, it is important to emphasize efficiencies in cost management as well as im- on profitability issues of operators. That is, in proving processes to implement technologies, view of decreasing revenues from voice and including IoT and 5G. increasing costs due to the high band-width demands brought forth from new digital ser- For the latter purpose, blockchain can enable vices, are real and have very real impact on fu- the creation of new mechanisms for accessing ture investments and business sustainability. new technologies and building new solutions, By understanding the co-operative roles that and for guaranteeing secure and error-free are now required to be played by operators and connectivity among both human and machine regulators, and with the adoption of advanced users. As authenticated communication technological means to adapt to new changes is necessary to modern-day service and and tackle prevailing challenges, blockchain’s technology access, highest level of desired potential for being of beneficial use can be bet- level of security may only be achievable ter appreciated and realized. through blockchain. With reference to SAMENA Council’s Thus as operators consider implementing membership embodiment of innovators, blockchain in their core management systems one of our member companies, specializing to help reduce settlement complexities, in blockchain technology, has created a improve cost efficiencies and processes, solution that can directly connect mobile and to create new prospects for revenue network operators and end-users globally on generation, the aim should be to work closely a blockchain-based marketplace, whereby with regulatory authorities, in order to reduce operators’ customers, traveling abroad, can gaps in understanding and facilitate each swiftly become legitimate local customers of other’s adaptation to and adoption of new any foreign operator in the destination country. innovations such as blockchain. Doing so Without replacing their SIMs, end-users will serve the interests of both operators and can access a roaming-free communication regulators; an objective on which SAMENA experience while retaining their home number. Council holds a very special consideration in Moreover, the technology allows operators the larger interest of the industry. 4 DECEMBER 2018 INTERVIEW SAMENA TRENDS STC, among the first companies in the world to announce the availability of 5G services earlier in 2018, is a world-class digital leader providing innovative services and platforms to its customers and enabling the digital transformation of the MENA region. STC has the mission to deliver on Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals. STC’s Group CEO, Eng. Nasser Al Nasser shares his views on how Saudi Arabia’s most valuable brand is preparing for the future. STC’s assets of technology infrastructure, a loyal customer base, strong brand, skilled human resource, financial strength, and leadership commitment puts us in a very strong position to be a partner of choice for government, enterprises and consumers. Q. One of Vision 2030’s main commitments is to develop telecommunication and ICT infrastructure. What is STC’s role in that? A. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is embarking on an ambitious journey set by Saudi Vision 2030 where digitization will be at the heart of economic transformation. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) will be a key enabler to achieve the three key pillars of the vision: a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation. Digitization of Industries, businesses and society in general will be enabled by underlying technology infrastructure. Eng. Nasser Bin Sulaiman Al Nasser Group CEO Digitization in KSA enabled by broadband infrastructure, data centers, cloud, mobility,