5G to herald the next wave of digital transformation in Jordan

Jordan is witnessing the dawn of a new era. The next decade will be marked by transformational new business models, data-driven education and healthcare systems, seamless public services, and tech-driven solutions. These innovations will rely on an advanced ICT infrastructure, represented by 5G. To usher in this next wave of digital transformation, Jordan is keen to roll out the next-generation network.  

GCC countries were among the first to deploy commercial 5G networks globally. Today, we have great examples of real-world 5G use cases and how these innovations can drive socio-economic growth, thanks to these pioneers. 

For instance, 5G-enabled solutions have made oil and gas fields in Saudi Arabia and the UAE safer, more secure and generated real operational savings. Meanwhile, 5G-enabled video and remote operation of gantry cranes in Oman and Saudi ports have improved the working environment and enhanced workforce diversity. In Kuwait, an innovative 5G private line solution has delivered rapid deployment of low-cost broadband services for small and medium-sized enterprises.

In Jordan, 5G promises a significant boost for key economic sectors. We can demonstrate use cases of intelligent industry operations where unmanned production vehicles run faster at 35 km/h, significantly improving production efficiency. 

As 5G matures, it will be deployed in more hazardous industry operations, such as rescue and relief, debris clearing, and pit operations. Such developments have a remarkable impact on the quality of life by protecting humans from dangerous working conditions. In tourism, 5G will provide the speeds, resilience, and reach needed to bring historical sites to life, turning tourist attractions such as Petra into fully immersive experiences through augmented, virtual and mixed reality. 

To safeguard this progress, we must ensure that we embed security in 5G networks. The proliferation of digital services in recent years has dramatically expanded the threat surface. The 5G Cybersecurity Knowledge Base proposed by GSMA is an excellent successful practice in handling the cybersecurity challenge. 

We advocate for active cooperation in governance architecture, standards, and technologies and sharing of successful approaches to improve overall cyber defence capabilities. The NESAS and SCAS standards proposed by 3GPP and GSMA are feasible and effective models for analysing manufacturers' adherence to security requirements.

Cybersecurity must remain a shared responsibility where partners, industries and regulators should work together to meet national security requirements and share best practices. Huawei has long worked with organisations like the GSMA, 3GPP, OIC-CERT, and other industry stakeholders to examine emerging cybersecurity risks and promote independent certifications and standards such as the GSMA/3GPP NESAS Security Assurance Specifications and GSMA 5G Cybersecurity Knowledge Base. 

In addition, Huawei is now driving the adoption of the OIC 5G Security Framework developed by the OIC-CERT 5G Security Working Group to enhance cybersecurity measures proportionate to the risk landscape emerging from digital technology advances.

Another crucial contributor to 5G-driven innovations is building an effective talent pipeline. Enterprises not only have to expand their use of connected devices but also manage, protect, and analyse the massive amounts of new data those devices provide. Companies without these capabilities will become less competitive and could even disappear. 

Nurturing ICT skills is a national priority for Jordan with most universities offering ICT-related courses. But educational institutions cannot do this alone, and university-enterprise collaboration has proven to be a highly effective skills development model. Huawei has sponsored various talent development and competition programmes, including the ICT Academy and the annual ICT Competition.

I'm happy to note that a Jordanian team from Al Balqa Applied University won third place in the Huawei Middle East ICT Competition 2021. Meanwhile, Huawei's flagship CSR initiative, Huawei Seeds for the Future (SFTF), is growing from strength to strength. Jordanian students joined colleagues from nine other countries in the Middle East for the 2021/2022 edition of SFTF as Huawei works to bridge the widening talent gap between university courses and business needs. 

Technology's role in advancing societal progress is undisputed. With 5G, Jordan will have in place the foundation to develop impactful solutions with real-world applications to solve some of our biggest challenges while creating new growth opportunities. 

Ethan Wang, CEO, Huawei Jordan