DOHA: Minister of Communications and Information Technology HE Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai has affirmed the State of Qatar's commitment to establishing a knowledge-based economy within the framework of Qatar National Vision 2030, and in line with its aspirations for sustainable development that revolves around technology and digital transformation.
This came in his opening speech at the M360 Middle East and North Africa Conference, which is being held in Doha over the course of two days, November 18 and 19, and is organized by (Ooredoo Qatar), in partnership with the Global Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Media City - Qatar.
Al Mannai said: "Hosting the M360 Middle East and North Africa Conference in Doha is an affirmation of the State of Qatar's firm commitment to promoting digital innovation and cooperation efforts in the region."
He added: "We are confident in our ability to promote sustainable growth and improve the quality of life of our citizens, by adopting the latest technologies such as artificial intelligence and 5G networks, in addition to building effective strategic digital partnerships. The conference represents a valuable platform to discuss the digital future in the Middle East and North Africa region and develop effective strategies to contribute to its enhancement."
The conference was attended by a number of representatives from the industry, technology and communications sectors, along with a number of government officials, with the aim of enhancing the potential of the digital economy in the Middle East and North Africa, in light of expectations indicating that mobile services contribute $360 bn to the region’s GDP.
For his part, CEO of Ooredoo Qatar, Sheikh Ali bin Jabor bin Mohammed Al Thani said: "Doha’s hosting of the conference reflects Ooredoo Qatar’s firm commitment to supporting digital transformation efforts across the region. We are proud to be at the forefront of these efforts, by launching artificial intelligence and 5G network initiatives that directly impact the advancement of communication capabilities and the improvement of the quality of life in Qatar."
He added: "By collaborating with the GSMA and our partners in the region, we are committed to building a strong digital ecosystem that will contribute to achieving Qatar’s vision to consolidate its leading position in the fields of technology and innovation. Together, we are working to lay the solid foundations for a future where digital communication plays a pivotal role in empowering societies and strengthening the economy."
During the opening session, Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA, expressed his aspiration to explore the promising prospects opened by artificial intelligence technologies, digital partnerships and mobile communications in the region, highlighting that the region is expected to witness a qualitative leap in its digital economy by 2030.
Granryd said: "Mobile services will contribute a huge amount of 360 billion US dollars to the GDP. The M360 MENA conference is an ideal platform to enhance cooperation and innovation, which supports the digital transformation efforts in the region."
The conference also witnessed the release of the GSMA’s annual report on the mobile economy in the Middle East and North Africa region for 2024, which indicated expectations that the contribution of 5G technology to total mobile connections in the region will reach half by 2030.
The report revealed the increasing adoption of productive artificial intelligence in the region; as telecom operators rely on this advanced technology to enhance customer experience, improve network performance, and open up new horizons for business opportunities.
This year’s edition of the M360 Conference witnessed the launch of a comprehensive library of artificial intelligence use cases by the GSMA, which includes more than 60 practical application cases of artificial intelligence from around the world, with contributions from leading global companies such as Huawei, ZTE, Ericsson, Nokia, and IBM.
The library reviews the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing mobile technologies in various fields, from customer service to network planning.
The union seeks to expand the scope of the library to include more innovative applications in various aspects of the mobile system.
Following the opening of the conference, a delegation of senior executives from Ooredoo Qatar and the GSMA toured a number of the main exhibiting pavilions, including Ooredoo Qatar, Qatar Media City, Invest Qatar, SAP, and Google, where they learned about innovative solutions aimed at accelerating digital transformation efforts.
This year’s conference agenda covers a number of key topics, including monetizing 5G networks, the importance of building AI-ready networks, smart projects that have resulted from digital innovations, and key digital partnerships aimed at advancing the digital economy in the region.