What are the opening hours?

Monday 09:00 - 18:00 Tuesday 09:00 - 18:00 Wednesday 09:00 - 18:00 Thursday 09:00 - 18:00 Friday 09:00 - 18:00

SAMENA Telecommunications Council

Name: SAMENA Telecommunications Council
Address: Alfa Building, Knowledge Village, Dubai, AE
Telephone: +971 4 364 2700

Home
United Arab Emirates
Dubai
SAMENA Telecommunications Council

It comprises and represents the interests of 40 telecom operators acros 25 markets. SAMENA is a not-for-profit organization with no affiliation. Saud Al Daweesh.

SAMENA Telecommunications Council is a tri-regional, non-profit telecommunications association that embodies a community of South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African telecoms operators, manufacturers, telecoms regulators and academia. SAMENA Telecommunications Council is a South Asia – Middle East – North Africa (SAMENA) region’s industry association, driven primarily to represent telecommunications operators and service providers. Its member organizations include telecom vendors and technology companies, cellular and fixed-line operators, consultancy groups, as well as telecom regulatory bodies. The group's CEO is Bocar Ba. It is a member of ITU-D and has subsequently participated in the ITU activities. Headquartered in the UAE, SAMENA Council was launched in 2006 by Thomas W. Wilson who also served as the Chief Executive Officer & Executive Managing Director until 2012. The Council was initially led by Dr. Muhammad Ali Al Wohaibi, then-CEO of Oman Telecom. Subsequently, SAMENA Council was chaired by Orange Jordan Telecom Group’s CEO Mr. Mickael Ghossein and then the group CEO of Saudi Telecom Company, Eng. Elected in 2011, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Isa Al Khalifa, Group CEO of Batelco served as a chairman of the SAMENA Council’s Board of Directors until September 2013 and was succeeded by Dr. Nasser Marafih, then-Group CEO of Ooredoo. In 2016, the Board of Directors elected Dr. Khaled Biyari, Group CEO of STC, to lead SAMENA Council. The Board of Directors of the Council appointed Mr. Bocar A. BA as CEO in 2013. Mr. BA has been with the SAMENA Council since its early foundation. The SAMENA Council is now in its next phase of organizational development. Since its inception in 2006, the Council has made major strides in representing the interests of telecom operators and in playing the role of the agenda-setter. Today, the Council is considered to be the leading platform to provide a unified voice and collaborative approach for leading operators and service providers in SAMENA region. The goal is to position the telecom operators and service providers to be the partner of choice in driving region-wide digitization programs and in realizing socio-economic developments in regional economies. The SAMENA Council started its Policy Board ("Policy Board") in 2011 with the main purpose to guide, advice and adopt, strategic positions on issues arising within the information and communication technologies ("ICT") industry, both regionally and globally, for the benefit of SAMENA Council and its members. For over 6 years now, the SAMENA Council’s scheduled meetings, internal committees, and an all-inclusive Web portal, together, provides companies, professionals, regulatory authorities and other stakeholders of the industry, means for seeking and suggesting solutions on mutually beneficial and collaborative fronts. With an expanding member portfolio, the Council is quickly securing strong footing in the region and beyond. In June 2012, the SAMENA Council was officially selected as a member of the newly formed Arab Multi stakeholders Advisory Group (AMAG) for the Arab Internet Governance Forum. The advisory group’s mandate is to set the theme for the Arab Internet Governance Forum (AIGF) in a way that maintains transparency and inclusion. SAMENA Council collaborates with leading non-profit international organizations, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) the European Telecom Network Operators’ Association (ETNO) and FTTH Council among others.

04/11/2026

AI is everywhere. When you use a search engine, shop online or interact with a company’s customer support, AI is often embedded in the process. At the same time, active consumer use of generative AI services like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or Perplexity is rising. The recent launch of Meta’s Muse brought this to the forefront, with high early adoption proving the appeal (and market value) of consumer-focused AI services.

While AI is computationally intensive, the good news for mobile operators is that its current network requirements are fairly modest – especially when focusing on the ways mobile consumers interact with generative AI services. While increasing numbers of consumers interact with AI with voice and video (more on that below), much interaction, if not most, is still text-based. Our research suggests a text prompt needs just 0.01Mbps download and 0.2Mbps upload. This is just a fraction of what any modern mobile connection can deliver. And yet averaged across the 140 countries we tested, just short of three-quarters of mobile network tests were good enough for text AI. The leading cause of failure here is time to first byte – analogous to time to first token. This is how long it takes for a connection to be established. A slow time to first byte could make AI conversations feel slower and immersive.

In this report we unpack how ready mobile networks around the world are for the different ways consumers interact with AI services, the different network limitations affecting experience, and the broader implications for equitable global AI adoption.

Consumers' use of AI in their personal lives is growing

Across the world AI adoption is growing, with 18.8% of the world’s working-age population using AI as of Q2 2026. While much research focuses on AI in the workplace, personal AI use is rising. On ChatGPT, the volume of non-work messages grew faster than the volume of work-related messages between June 2024 and June 2025. On Gemini, 86% of interactions are now outside of work.

Mobile devices are central to this adoption. Device manufacturers have built AI functionality directly into handsets, meaning users can access generative AI services without having to directly open an app or browse to a webpage. As of January 2026, Apple partners with Google’s Gemini to augment its Siri assistant. Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy S26 allows users to select which AI service they would like to use for their AI assistant, as well as interact with AI directly by long-pressing the power button. Some requests can be handled on the handset, but those that don’t get routed to a generative AI service.

Meanwhile, AI services like Perplexity have explored working with mobile operators, offering year-long AI trials to an operator’s subscribers. This pattern repeats across Japan (Softbank), India (Airtel), Canada (Bell), Germany (Telekom), Singapore (Singtel) and Australia (Optus) among others. Softbank’s announcement of the trial explicitly references the goal to “bring the benefits of AI to all walks of life as soon as possible”, emphasising the role of mobile operators (and their networks) in connecting AI to consumers.

Where (and how) consumers use AI shapes their usage, and changes AI’s network requirements

Mobile interaction with AI also tends to be more conversational than on a computer. On Copilot “users reach for their phones [to interact with AI] for the topics that are more personal or pique their interest beyond work”. Users’ top mobile interactions overwhelmingly centered on searching for information or advice on various topics. In contrast, on computers, top interactions included more intensive and work-focused behaviors: editing, creating and learning.

These personal uses take a very conversational, personal tone: for example, conversations on Anthropic’s Claude outside of work center around emotional and physical wellbeing, finances, and general companionship. This type of conversational, advice-centered interaction demands immediacy. While consumers may be more understanding of delays working on a large file, these back and forth conversations quickly expose when a network causes delays.

Consumers largely interact with AI via text today, but this is beginning to shift. In recent months, increasing numbers of consumers now use voice and live video to interact with AI services. As ofAugust 2026, 63% of Gemini users now use voice at some point in their interactions with Gemini. One in five Gemini Live interactions also involve live camera feeds or screen sharing.
Read More...
https://www.samenacouncil.org/samena_daily_news?news=113142

04/11/2026

The SAMENA Telecommunications Council, represented by Bocar Ba, CEO, was pleased to attend Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority ICT Development Forum 2026, held in Dubai on November 4, under the theme *“The Future of Telecommunications in the Agentic AI Era: Toward Autonomous Services and Networks.”*

The Forum addressed important industry priorities, including AI infrastructure and efficiency, autonomous network operations, responsible AI adoption, 6G connectivity, trust, and governance. Such discussions are increasingly relevant as telecommunications networks and services evolve to accommodate greater levels of intelligence and automation.

Agentic AI deserves particular attention as autonomous systems gain the ability to initiate actions, make operational decisions, and interact across networks and digital services. This makes clear definitions of authority, identity, accountability, and operational control increasingly important, particularly across organizational and technical boundaries.

For example, ZETRIX's contribution on coordinated global governance of AI agent identity and accountability highlighted an important area requiring industry and regulatory attention as autonomous AI systems become more widely adopted.

The SAMENA Council fully supports TDRA's initiative in bringing together regulators, operators, technology providers, and international organizations to examine these developments and their implications for the future of telecommunications, particularly as the UAE advances AI adoption and prepares for the development of 6G networks and services.

04/11/2026

ZainTECH, the integrated digital solutions arm of Zain Group, enabling organizations to become Digital, Intelligent, and Resilient, is advancing its promise: “What’s next is now” through a strategic collaboration with Dell Technologies. The alliance brings Dell PowerProtect Data Domain and Dell PowerScale solutions to organizations across the region, enabling them to modernize storage environments, enhance cyber resilience, and address accelerating data growth requirements.

As organizations accelerate cloud adoption, AI initiatives, and data modernization programs, the need for resilient, scalable, and simplified storage architectures continues to grow. This milestone cooperation further strengthens ZainTECH's role in delivering enterprise-grade storage, backup, and data protection capabilities through flexible consumption models, reflecting its promise that “What’s next is now” by enabling organizations to strengthen business continuity, protect critical data assets, and adapt more effectively to evolving hybrid IT environments.

These dynamic solutions are available through the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, providing organizations with a flexible cloud-based model for accessing Dell's advanced data protection and storage capabilities. Through this collaboration, organizations can leverage Dell PowerScale to address rapidly expanding unstructured data requirements and support high-performance workloads, while Dell Data Domain enhances backup efficiency and strengthens cyber recovery capabilities through advanced data protection technologies.

“Organizations today are navigating unprecedented growth in data volumes while facing increasing expectations around resilience, security, and operational efficiency," said Andrew Hanna, CEO of ZainTECH. "By making Dell's advanced storage and data protection technologies available through ZainTECH, we are helping enterprises modernize their infrastructure strategies, strengthen cyber resilience, and build the foundation required to support future innovation, including AI-driven workloads."
Read More...
https://www.samenacouncil.org/samena_daily_news?news=113140

04/11/2026

stc Bahrain, a digital enabler, has announced the signing of a USD 140 million financing facility with BNP Paribas, one of the world’s leaders in banking and financial services. Signed during the Gateway Gulf Investment Forum 2026, hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), the agreement marks the establishment of a key financial partnership designed to support stc Bahrain’s expansion plans, strengthen its digital infrastructure, and drive its long-term growth trajectory in the Kingdom.

Eng. Khalid Al Osaimi, CEO of stc Bahrain, commented: "We are delighted to announce our strategic partnership with BNP Paribas during Gateway Gulf Investment Forum, supporting our plans to deliver strategic projects that strengthen Bahrain’s digital infrastructure and enhance its competitiveness as a regional hub for technology and investment. We remain committed to investing in an integrated digital ecosystem that supports growth across multiple sectors, creates new opportunities for innovation, and delivers advanced solutions that meet our customers’ evolving needs, contributing to economic diversification and the objectives of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030."

Benoit Pivot, CEO, BNP Paribas Bahrain said: “BNP Paribas is honored to support stc Bahrain through this USD 140 million financing facility. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to providing tailored financial solutions that empower digital leaders to expand their reach and accelerate digital transformation within the Kingdom of Bahrain. This transaction strengthens the global relationship between BNP Paribas and stc group and illustrates our continued longstanding focus on the Bahrain market.”
Read More...
https://www.samenacouncil.org/samena_daily_news?news=113139

04/11/2026

Cisco and PSA Singapore (PSA) willaccelerate the next phase of Tuas Port’s transformation into a digitally resilient, AI-driven port of the future. The companies today announced a strategic collaboration to develop a proof of concept for an AI-powered observability and incident management platform at Tuas Port, currently the world’s largest fully automated container terminal.

The collaboration is part of Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration program, through which Cisco partners with the public and private sector to advance national digitalization priorities and support Singapore’s digital agenda.

Digital resilience has shifted from a strategic advantage to an everyday necessity across industries, including modern port operations. Cisco research underscores this, revealing that the average annual cost of downtime per organization has climbed to US$300 million. Outages affecting critical systems like the Terminal Operating System (TOS), which manages the movement, storage, and tracking of cargo, can disrupt port operations and business continuity. The new platform is designed to reduce and eventually pre-empt these unplanned outages.

Enabling Predictive, AI-Powered Operations

The platform, powered by Cisco, unifies real-time performance data from PSA’s applications, infrastructure, and networking systems into a central view. By using AI to map how different services and infrastructure interact, it helps technical teams quickly identify which services are affected during an incident, diagnose the root cause, and receive recommendations to resolve issues in real time.

Built in, cloud-native security helps protect the port’s critical infrastructure against modern threats, preventing unauthorized access and flagging unusual network traffic.

"Digital resilience is fundamental to the reliability and efficiency of global supply chains. At PSA, we continually explore new technologies to strengthen operational resilience and deliver service excellence. Our collaboration with Cisco reflects a shared commitment to advancing innovation in port operations while reinforcing Singapore’s position as a trusted global hub for trade,” said Nelson Quek, Regional CEO, SEA,PSA International.
Read More...
https://www.samenacouncil.org/samena_daily_news?news=113141

03/11/2026

MTN One TV launched its first original series, 100 Ways to Stay Single in Lagos, at a special screening in Cape Town alongside MIP Africa 2026, marking an important milestone in its ambition to connect African stories with audiences across the continent.

Produced by Nigerian filmmaker Mimi Bartels and supported by MTN One TV – MTN’s mobile-first, multi-screen streaming platform – the drama series showcases a collaboration of talent from Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana. Following its launch, the series is now available to viewers in South Africa, Ghana and Zambia, with a broader rollout across other MTN markets to follow.

The premiere brought together filmmakers, cast members and industry stakeholders to celebrate the production and the opportunities for African storytelling through cross-border collaboration.

As part of its Ambition 2030 strategy, MTN is expanding its digital services business to respond to evolving customer needs and growing demand for digital entertainment. Through MTN One TV, the Group is working with the creative industry to connect audiences with relevant content while exploring new commercial opportunities for African producers and content businesses.

Burak Akinci, Chief Executive of MTN Digital Services, said the launch demonstrates the potential of combining Africa’s creative talent with digital platforms that can help stories reach wider audiences.

“Africa has extraordinary storytellers, talented creators and world-class content. We see an opportunity to work alongside the industry, bringing our digital capabilities, market presence and understanding of African audiences to help great stories travel further,” said Akinci. “Our ambition is to build an entertainment platform that creates value for viewers and meaningful commercial opportunities for the people and businesses behind the content.”

For Bartels, the production demonstrates what becomes possible when creative ambition is matched with the right partnerships.

“Every filmmaker understands how important it is to have partners who believe in your vision. I’m grateful to MTN One TV for supporting this production and helping us bring the story to life,” said Bartels. “Seeing something created in Nigeria reach audiences across different African markets is incredibly rewarding, and I hope it encourages more opportunities for African creators to share their stories.”

South African actor Bohang Moeko, who stars in the series, highlighted the value of working with talent from across the continent.
Read More...
https://www.samenacouncil.org/samena_daily_news?news=113120

03/11/2026

Omantel Innovation Labs has announced nine technology startups joining Cohort 8, marking the latest chapter in its efforts to support promising technology ventures, foster entrepreneurship and create opportunities for growth and market expansion.

Of the nine startups joining Cohort 8, seven were selected following an application and evaluation process, bringing together solutions across fintech, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, industrial technology, food technology and advanced manufacturing. The cohort also welcomes two startups from stc’s inspireU portfolio in Saudi Arabia, adding a regional dimension to the initiative and creating further opportunities for startups to access new markets, networks and industry connections.

The Cohort 8 startups are:

Al Ankaa: Ankaa Space and Technologies Company delivers advanced technical solutions for government, commercial, and civil sectors using low/No-code development and artificial intelligence.
CardO: A corporate card and expense management platform for SMEs that replaces petty cash with instant virtual cards, real-time spend controls, and greater visibility over business expenses.
DR3K: An AI-powered mobile app security testing platform that uncovers vulnerabilities, validates their real-world risk, and helps organizations secure their apps before attackers strike.
Innotech: Transforming concrete industries in construction and artificial reefs with 3D printing, cutting costs, speeding up delivery, and reducing carbon footprint through automated, scalable manufacturing.
MisMar: A startup participating through stc’s inspireU accelerator, and it is automotive technology company digitizing and reengineering the vehicle after-sales experience, offering a wide range of services for consumers and businesses, from complex vehicle repairs to routine maintenance such as oil changes.
Modern Zone: An AI-enabled operational intelligence platform for industrial plants and distributed infrastructure connecting existing equipment and operational data into a unified monitoring layer, giving operators real-time visibility, identifying abnormalities, reducing unnecessary manual inspections, and improving operational efficiency. Initially focused on the water and wastewater sector, the technology is designed to expand across critical industrial infrastructure.
Nabt: A technology-enabled fresh produce company founded in Riyadh in 2022, contracting farms across Saudi Arabia and delivering graded, traceable produce on cold chain from its Riyadh and Jeddah hubs.
OCO: A subscription-based platform connecting customers with restaurants across Oman through buy-one-get-one deals and discounts, while enabling order-ahead pickup and meal gifting. Restaurants can use OCO to promote offers, attract new customers, and manage redemptions through its POS terminal.
SEE360: An Arabic-native intelligent system of record for tracking stakeholder commitments on Oman's mega-projects, which results in engagement records that survive every team change, approvals that move faster, and decisions you can defend.
Read More...
https://www.samenacouncil.org/samena_daily_news?news=113121

02/11/2026

Eutelsat Communications (ISIN: FR0010221234 - Euronext Paris / London Stock Exchange: ETL) reports revenues for the First Quarter ended 30 September 2026.

FIRST QUARTER REVENUES3

Total revenues for the First Quarter stood at €286 million, down 2.4% on a reported basis, and 0.9% like-for-like.

Revenues of the four Operating Verticals4 stood at €278 million. They were down 2.1% on a like-for-like basis excluding a slight currency effect. Quarter‑on‑quarter, revenues of the four Operating Verticals were down by 18.6% like-for-like.

Following the successful outcome of the IRIS² First Rendez-Vous, the project has now entered its construction phase, marking the transition from programme definition to industrial ex*****on. With this milestone, the Group’s backlog now includes €8.9 billion of future revenues associated with the ex*****on of construction-related activities under the programme. In this context, €5 million of revenue was recognised during the First Quarter, representing an initial contribution that is expected to increase materially over the remainder of the fiscal year as ex*****on of the programme advances.
Read More...
https://www.samenacouncil.org/samena_daily_news?news=113099

02/11/2026

Es’hailSat -Qatar Satellite Company- and the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat) signed a strategic partnership agreement during the Arab Radio and Television Festival (ASBU Festival) in Hammamet, Tunisia. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between both companies and expand joint initiatives in broadcasting and satellite communications.

This landmark agreement aims to reinforce the 26° East orbital location as the regional satellite broadcasting hub of choice by increasing the number of channels and enhancing content diversity. This will enrich the viewing experience and support the growth of the satellite media sector across the Middle East and North Africa region.

The agreement also expands cooperation for both space pioneers in satellite communications, VSAT services, and connectivity solutions. Both parties will explore advanced technologies to improve service quality, efficiency, and reliability, offering customers more integrated solutions.

Arabsat and Es’hailSat will also expand cooperation on the Unified Arab Bouquet to strengthen the global reach of Arab content and use international satellite coverage to deliver Arab channels to wider audiences beyond the MENA region.

Dr. Badr N. Alsuwaidan, CEO of Arabsat, said:

This agreement aims to strengthen strategic partnerships and integration with Es’hailSat, contributing to the development of the broadcasting and satellite communications ecosystem in the region. Through this cooperation, we look forward to reinforcing the 26° East orbital location and expanding areas of cooperation in broadcasting, communications, and satellite connectivity solutions, while supporting the global reach of Arab content and enabling it to reach wider audiences worldwide. This partnership also provides a foundation for developing joint initiatives and solutions that leverage the expertise and capabilities of both parties and keep pace with the rapid developments in the space sector, enhancing the quality of services provided to our customers and supporting our vision for a more integrated, innovative, and sustainable future.

Mr. Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, President and CEO of Es’hailSat, said:
Read More...
https://www.samenacouncil.org/samena_daily_news?news=113098

29/10/2026

Nanjing Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (NISCO) has worked with Huawei and ecosystem partners to commercially deploy the world's first steel model powered by swarm intelligence—the YuanYe Steel Large Model (YuanYe)—across multiple scenarios at scale. This helps NISCO transition its core operations from relying on experience to being powered by data and intelligence collaboration.

NISCO has built a robust digital and intelligent foundation by adopting industry-leading products including Ascend, Kunpeng, Huawei Cloud Stack, and Pangu models. By embedding AI into every core stage of production—ironmaking, steelmaking, rolling, and quality inspection—NISCO is forging green and high-end AI-powered super steel plants.

Unlike general-purpose monolithic models, YuanYe innovatively fuses multiple AI models with the steel industry's metallurgical mechanism models to create a dual-drive, multi-model cluster architecture. This architecture features a "right brain" for probabilistic computing and a "left brain" for precise and scientific decision-making. Powered by massive amounts of sensing data aggregated from millions of operational technology (OT) data points across 26 business domains, NISCO has achieved real-time digital twin mapping within its intelligent operations center, laying solid data and scenario foundations for YuanYe. This enables the entire steelmaking process to become not only visible, but also capable of precise control and intelligent assessment. Now 100% of NISCO's key equipment is connected and digitally controlled and its new product R&D cycles have been shortened by 50%, reducing annual costs by over CNY100 million (approx. US$15 million).

As of this month, NISCO has launched 25 business agents by October 2026. These agents cover a wide range of scenarios, from visual quality inspection and process optimization to production scheduling and operations management.

Breakthroughs in four core scenarios: YuanYe redefines traditional operations for significant safety, efficiency, and quality gains

In the ironmaking stage, AI makes traditionally invisible blast furnaces transparent. YuanYe leverages blast furnaces' internal sensor data and metallurgical mechanism analysis to perform real-time dynamic simulations of the ironmaking process. Assisted by furnace temperature prediction and health diagnosis models, furnace operators can predict temperatures and identify issues two hours in advance, with over 90% accuracy. This shifts furnace operations from reactive post-event remediation to proactive pre-control, increasing prime-grade molten iron yield by over 10% while significantly cutting unit energy consumption.

In the rolling stage, AI drives precise predictions and codifies expert experience to enhance the operational stability of steel rolling and secure leadership in product quality. To tackle the highly dynamic and complex operating conditions during the rolling process, YuanYe's rolling-force prediction model achieves millisecond-level response, narrowing the thickness tolerance to ±0.2 mm and reducing the steel thickness deviation to 1.9% to reach a world-leading standard. The rolling-force hit rate has jumped from 88% to 98%, supporting a steady annual output of over 2.5 million tons of steel plates and increasing the overall yield rate by 0.5%. Enhanced dimensional precision and physical-chemical stability allow NISCO's products to meet demanding steel specifications across diverse applications, ranging from mega stadiums and oil pipelines to 10,000-ton cruise ships and LNG storage tanks.
Read More...
https://www.samenacouncil.org/samena_daily_news?news=113059

Address

Alfa Building, Knowledge Village
Dubai

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 18:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 18:00
Thursday	09:00 - 18:00
Friday	09:00 - 18:00

Telephone

+971 4 364 2700

Website

http://www.samenacouncil.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when SAMENA Telecommunications Council posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.