2nd annual GCF Workshop for MENA region

GCF in collaboration with Emirates Integrated Telecommunications company (du), held its second 5G MENA workshop - ‘Building a 5G world’ - on November 25 at the Sheraton hotel, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, UAE.

The one-day workshop explored the next major challenges in realising the full potential of this exciting new technology.  Through an impressive set of speakers from across the 5G industry, attendees learned how regulators, network operators, manufacturers and industries in the MENA region are using and developing the technology in innovative ways to realise new business opportunities beyond traditional mobile phone services, and the importance of standards and interoperability in supporting these developments.  This workshop built on the first GCF 5G MENA workshop held in 2018 that focused on launching 5G.

Delegates assembled for the start of the 'Building a 5G World' workshop.

Key Learnings

• Various forecasts of 5G up-take ranging from 1.3 - 2.5bn subscribers worldwide by 2025.
• Full 5G (5G SA Option 2) is expected to become 'mass market' from 2022. Most current deployments around the world and in the MENA region are NSA option 3, primarly for enhanced mobile broadband and/or Fixed Wireless Access.
• New features in 5G (slicing, edge computing, virtualisation) will enable operators to offer new services and develop new businesses.
• Low latency / high reliablity applications such as automotive and (mission) critical communications were identified as being key 5G enabled markets going forward. Gaming (cloud-based with immersive VR/AR) was also identified as another important market.
• A key challenge is how to identify new use cases and develop them into businesses. This will often involve working with many partners.
• Demonstrating interoperability and compliance to standards will become increasingly important to the digital transformation of industries that operators are helping to shape.  
• GCF is working with a range of partners from other industry ecosystems to support the ability to ensure interoperablity and demonstrate compliance to standards in these industries.

Presentations from the workshop are available by clicking on the titles in the agenda below.

Agenda