By Mathias Johansson

THE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), a global and regional example rich with culture and resources, has a vision: to become a hub connecting three continents by the year 2030. The government of KSA has devised a bold yet achievable plan to turn this vision into reality — a plan expressing the country’s long-term goals and reflecting its strengths as a nation.

In a world where technology, mobility, and connectivity are vital, a vision like this entails that KSA’s public and private sectors will work hand-in-hand with ICT providers towards the National Vision 2030.

In order to achieve its National Vision 2030 to fruition in its full, ICT providers like Ericsson are continuously working with partners in KSA to support this vision.

A Vibrant Society

In its Vision 2030, KSA is striving to nurture a vibrant society of citizens with strong roots, fulfilling lives, and strong foundations. The Kingdom’s government believes that its wealth lies in the nation’s people and society, and it takes enormous pride in the historical and cultural legacy of its Saudi, Arab, and Islamic heritage — a heritage that has given the country’s society the cultural richness and diversity it is known for today. As such, the country aims to preserve these qualities by prioritizing the happiness and fulfillment of citizens and residents across the country.

In support of KSA’s goal to build a vibrant society which preserves its heritage while ensuring a good quality of life in today’s technological world, Ericsson has made several social investments in the country, backed by its belief in championing talent from a grass roots level — a value it holds in common with the Kingdom. In line with this, Ericsson has implemented projects and programs including the launch of the Center of Excellence, designed to educate and prepare Saudi youth for careers in telecommunications; the expansion of the University Program to include two KSA universities, which aims to build diverse local talent throughout the region; and the continuous support of entrepreneurship and ICT in the Kingdom.

A Thriving Economy

Cultivating a thriving economy is another vital element in KSA’s achievement of its Vision 2030. Defined by four characteristics — Rewarding Opportunities, Open for Business, Investing for the Long Term, and Leveraging its Unique Position — the thriving economy envisioned by the Saudi government will strengthen the nation’s global and regional standing on multiple fronts.

In support of this, Ericsson has announced collaborations with local operators to implement the next big step in mobile communication technologies: 5G. Ericsson aims to drive KSA’s transition to a truly connected society, in which the extensive capabilities of 5G are optimized. Economically, this means facilitating the digital transformation of industries by way of 5G and IoT, in turn unleashing the creative business models that will help operators in KSA to prosper in the future. In doing so, operators will be enabled to leverage their current LTE infrastructure to deliver a wide range of new IoT solutions across industries in the Kingdom, strengthening their position on the global economic playing field.

An Ambitious Nation

Finally, KSA’s Vision 2030 entails developing an ambitious nation that is effectively governed and responsibly enabled. The roles and requirements of government have grown and evolved significantly since the Kingdom’s founding, and in order to keep pace with rising expectations and new challenges, the government must evolve and improve continuously. Beyond government, KSA’s future aspirations will depend on a grand, collective national effort where everyone contributes to the achievement of hopes and fulfillment of responsibilities.

To bolster the Saudi government’s vision of establishing an ambitious nation, Ericsson is working with its local partners to build and develop the Kingdom’s ICT infrastructure. In doing so, Ericsson has made moves to implement and integrate 5G to help realize the vision of essentially unlimited access to information and sharing of data anywhere and anytime, for anyone and anything. 5G will enable new applications and use cases in areas such as cloud-enabled robotics and intelligent transportation that can benefit people, government, business, and society — and ensure sustainable prosperity in a world increasingly defined by the presence and advancement of technology.

Technology has become a defining aspect of development and prosperity — and in order for a nation to progress in the world we live in today, the advancement of technology must not only be recognized; it must be embraced and optimized.

— The writer is head of Ericsson Saudi Arabia and Egypt