STC demonstrates thought leadership at Mobile World Congress

As Platinum Sponsor of the Ministerial Program at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, STC participated with government ministers and global CEOs in a roundtable discussion on the impact of the telecom industry on the economy and the role of policy makers in encouraging further investment in this field. 

Group CEO Engineer Saud Al Daweesh and Ghassan Hasbani, CEO International Operations, represented STC in the discussion. 

"We believe that telecommunications services are key contributors to economic development and policy should focus on providing clarity and stability in regulatory frameworks to encourage higher levels of investments in the sector," said Al Daweesh, commenting on the key points raised in the meeting. 

In addition, STC addressed an audience of global industry leaders and policy makers at the Leadership Summit held during the Mobile World Congress. 

The speech focused on the role of regulators and policy makers in ensuring that the industry continues to attract investments through fair regulation and usage of infrastructure, allowing access to a wide subscriber base with appropriate classes of service that suit their usage patterns at affordable cost. 

STC presented a paper demonstrating the direct impact of innovation in telecommunications on global economic cycles and outlining the key challenges for the sector today. 

On the third day of the Mobile World Congress, Ghassan Hasbani, Chief Executive Officer of STC International Operations, presented the company's view on global Mergers and Acquisitions developments in which he indicated a revival of investment in the sector, although not at the same levels seen in 2006. He also expected further consolidation in the industry, with increased competition, substitution of main revenue sources and pressure on cost management. 

During the panel discussion, Hasbani shared the experience of STC in operating across multiple markets. 

STC also participated in a World Economic Forum Telecommunications Global Agenda meeting held in Barcelona in parallel with the GSMA Congress. It was attended by a large number of industry leaders and discussed issues related to mobile banking and mobile health services among other topics such as personal data exchange policies. 

STC is a telecom industry partner with the World Economic Forum and has a seat on the Global Agenda Council among leading organizations from the industry. 

"This Council serves to provide an industry view to global leaders and it is very important that our region is well represented through STC’s membership," said Ghassan Hasbani, who represents the organization on the Council. 

Executives from STC held several meetings with telecom ministers, technology vendors and telecom operators at which various operational and strategic matters were discussed including policy, regulation and technology evolution.