In an exclusive interview with Telecom Review, Anis H. Sinno, head of marketing – Nokia Middle East, shares his company’s portfolio of products and solutions as well as its future roadmap during the LEAP2020 technology innovation conference in Riyadh.
Nokia has been a leading innovator. What are the key initiatives being done to unleash boundless connectivity?
We imagine a future that is simpler, greener and more inclusive, where there are new possibilities to work, learn and do business. To do that, it's important to create technology that allows flexibility to adapt to the unexpected. It's also important to come up with a new business models that can support this vision with a new go to market approach – all this to bring further connectivity technologies for everyone to be more inclusive, bridging the digital divide in a sustainable way. We believe that this focus from Nokia on innovations like 5G will help this No Boundary Vision.
What is Nokia showcasing in LEAP2022?
We are very proud to be here in Riyadh as part of the exhibition. We have been extremely active in Saudi markets with our key customers here – communication service providers and enterprises. The focus of our showcase here is mainly looking at where the industry is going, the new trends showcasing vision 2030, and what will come with 5G advanced and 6G. We are also looking at how our technology is digitalizing the vertical sectors with use cases like automation for energy or utilities, as well as showcasing the power of private wireless networks with Nokia’s latest innovations in mobile networks, fixed network and optical networks. Many of the technologies showcased here are being deployed in Saudi with our key customers.
We are also showing our latest Wavence microwave products that are also being trialed here in the region. We are showing how network slicing has unlocked new revenue streams and our global pilot RAN slicing that was done in Saudi with Mobily. We are bringing our technology for Saudi and it has been rewarding so far. We have had very good conversation with the regulator, MCIT as well as with our customers. They are very excited to see the latest technologies coming from Nokia to the region.
With all these technologies being deployed in the Saudi market, how will Nokia continue to strengthen its relations with the customers, not only in the kingdom but in the wider regions?
We are a trusted partner for our customers across the region. We are providing them with the critical networks they need whether they are communications service providers or enterprises. We continue to do that. But we also work on certain initiatives that are beyond just supplying technologies; we are trying to contribute in the broader ecosystem. For example, we have a partnership with UN Women to create equal opportunities for women in various areas including the telco space. We continue to make initiatives to bridge the digital divide whether in the Middle East and Africa region, bringing technology that is specific for rural areas and bringing the internet for all. Overall, our focus is not only about our business but also on creating a positive impact on sustainability.
Which technology trends or customer demands do you expect to be dominant in 2022? And how will Nokia respond to this?
I believe what's important for our customer today is mainly to create value from the investment they are making. They also need to digitalize for more efficiency and need to build an infrastructure that is agile that can respond to higher traffic. I believe those are the three important challenges that our customers have.
Some industry trends will also be impactful. Openness is very important and collaboration is key in expanding the ecosystem and digitalizing the traditional industries. Sustainability will also be a major trend going forward.