RIYADH — The crucial role earmarked for digitization in driving forward Saudi Arabia’s broader economic and social development plans was mapped out by Nasser Al Nasser, CEO of STC Group, in an interview gave to Oxford Business Group’s online broadcasting channel, Global Platform.

Al Nasser told viewers that the Kingdom was well placed to implement digital ecosystems, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), which he described as the new norm for facilitating Industry 4.0.

“We believe that this will radically transform not only the telecom business itself, but also other industries,” he said. “It will enable automation and smart cities with their smart homes, smart parking, AVLs, automatic vehicle locations, and all types of industrial and cities applications.”

Turning to the topic of cybersecurity, Al Nasser said Artificial Intelligence (AI) was playing a key part in helping Saudi Arabia to address challenges in this critical area and identify joined-up solutions.

He also updated viewers on the Kingdom’s twofold plans to invest in fixed infrastructure and bridge gaps by awarding more spectrum to operators and introducing a new fiber set-up.

“We were lagging behind,” he acknowledged, “but as part of the 2020 National Transformation Plan there will be more than 2m households served by high-speed fiber by 2020.”

Marc-André de Blois, OBG’s director of PR and Video Content, said the interview with Al Nasser showed that Saudi Arabia’s huge digitization efforts were poised to revolutionalize many day-to-day activities in the Kingdom as Vision 2030 gains momentum.

“Significantly, viewers are also given valuable insight into the digital investment drive under way in the country,” he said. “I’m delighted that through our broadcast, subscribers have been able to learn more about these important plans to improve both services and speeds.”— SG