< Previous50 edge_march 2024 opinion G overnments across the Middle East are taking giant digital leaps forward. In the last decade alone, they have upped their investments in technology infrastructure, developed new roadmaps and policies, and supported the research and development of new technologies to propel the region towards a new era of innovation and growth. For instance, digital transformation of the Saudi government is an integral part of the country’s Vision 2030, which aims to enable and accelerate transformation across many e-government programmes and projects. Similarly, the UAE Digital Government Strategy 2025 plans to By Pete Hall Regional Managing Director, Ciena Middle East & Africa Why reliable connectivity is key to unlocking public digitisation in the region Building reliable connectivity in MENA NETWORK embed digital aspects into overall government strategies. Beyond economic promise, automating the delivery of public services has enormous potential to improve the quality of life for millions of people in the region and enable public services to become more efficient, cost-effective, and accessible. But for this transformation to propel in a meaningful way, there are a few pertinent challenges – namely, legacy infrastructures and cybersecurity concerns that governments are taking note of. Moving public services online saves citizens’ time while freeing up government resources for other priorities. Critical services and infrastructure can also remain operational remotely, especially during crises like the pandemic. Furthermore, technologies like real-time data analytics can enable governments to make better- Connected ecosystems help improve the quality of life for millions of people in the regionedge_march 2024 51 opinion informed decisions and improve service delivery for their people. With the Middle East private sector setting high standards for virtual experiences, people’s expectations of public services have risen. Increasingly, citizens want to access public services through one easy process. Yet, the reality is that governments serve hundreds of entities, making it difficult to streamline siloed systems. Compounding this issue is legacy infrastructure that impedes the delivery of high-quality virtual experiences to the masses. Like the private sector, outdated hardware and software is still being used within the public sector, leaving room for inefficiencies and security vulnerabilities. Having said this, Middle East governments are already taking steps to upgrade their networks with cloud-ready, efficient, scalable solutions. For instance, the implementation of 5G technology is enabling remote work in the region, not only does it provide greater bandwidth for video conferencing and collaboration, but it will also enable improved public services like intelligent transportation and enhanced public safety in the future. In Saudi Arabia, digital government platforms have facilitated data-sharing to offer safe, reliable, and user-centric services. The government has built platforms that increase transparency and boost trust, including the Absher platform, which enables digital IDs, authentication services, and other services. While governments can potentially supercharge public services through digitisation, it’s only effective if it can reach all citizens. At the heart of it all, investing in high-quality, resilient connectivity infrastructure is the key to powering such initiatives. Crucially, enacting scalable networks at the edge, closer to where content is being generated and consumed, is critical to achieving wider coverage to deliver quality experiences to end- users and meet the needs of new compute- intensive, latency-sensitive cloud-native applications that come with digitalisation. However, digitisation doesn’t necessarily translate to easier services. It also raises concerns over cybersecurity, data privacy, and even national security – especially when talking about public infrastructure like utilities and defence. Amid the global rise of cyberattacks, there’s a clear imperative to improve governance of data and strengthen public trust in the delivery of digital public services. Fortunately, technology is helping network providers protect sensitive customer and operational data, as well as their network infrastructure, with the right security measures. The delivery of high-quality, trustworthy digital public services can improve the lives of citizens. Governments across the region are already making it a priority to put in place, strong, consolidated and adaptive networks and infrastructure. With a strong infrastructure, access to public services for citizens of all ages, abilities, and economic backgrounds will be strengthened – helping everyone to participate in a digital future. “With the Middle East private sector setting high standards for virtual experiences, people’s expectations of public services have risen.”52 edge_march 2024 HONOR, MAGIC V2 Honor, the Chinese electronics consumer major has launched Magic V2, the thinnest and lightest foldable smartphone. The phone is priced at Dhs6,899. The new smartphone weighing 231g and measuring 9.9 mm in thickness when folded has five cameras, and a 5000 mAH battery. The smartphone’s five cameras are split between a triple rear camera setup and a dual front-facing camera setup, one on each display. The rear cameras include a 50MP ultra-wide camera, 50 MP main camera, and a 20MP telephoto camera. The cameras feature two 16MP cameras that also supports various capture modes. The Magic V2 boasts of an immersive user experience with support of over 1.07 billion colours along with dimming that minimises eye strain.gadget watch edge_march 2024 53 OnePlus has launched its latest smartphone – the OnePlus Nord N30 SE 5G- it’s latest smartphone in an entry level 5G space. This smartphone comes with 6.72” FHD+ Sunlight Display, enhanced dual stereo speakers, and ultra-volume mode. The phone is priced at Dhs599. The Nord N30 SE 5G comes with a higher audio- visual experience, and the newer version of the Glowing Feather Design brings a modern appearance to the phone. The phone boasts of 5000mAh battery, 33W SUPERVOOC flash charging, extended storage setup, and the larger screen size gives higher precision with 680 nits peak brightness. Nord N30 SE 5G comes with the high 1080 X 2400 resolutions gives support for a 100 per cent DCI-P3 colour gamut. It has a 40 per cent increase in brighter display than the previous generation provides impactful vivid visuals with significant realism and vibrant colours. OnePlus Nord N30 SE 5G features 4GB RAM + 128 ROM configuration and it’s RAM expansion features allow ROM storage to temporarily convert into RAM to enhance the phone’s performance through boosting. ONEPLUS NORD N30 SE 5G LG SIGNATURE OLED T TRANSPARENT TV Unveiled at CES 2024, LG Electronics introduces the world’s inaugural wireless transparent OLED TV, the LG SIGNATURE OLED T. This technology integrates a transparent 4K OLED screen with LG’s wireless video and audio transmission, elevating the viewing experience to unprecedented levels. The OLED T boasts a 77-inch screen size and incorporates LG’s latest (Alpha) 11 AI processor, ensuring unparalleled picture quality and performance. Its transparent display seamlessly merges with any environment, effectively resolving the challenge of integrating large screens into home décor. Recognised with five CES 2024 Innovation Awards, including the prestigious Best of Innovation accolade, LG’s transparent OLED TV marks a significant advancement in home entertainment technology.54 edge_march 2024 ANKER SOLIX F3800 At CES 2024, Anker unveiled Solix F 3800 power station, setting a new standard in portable energy solutions. Boasting a formidable base capacity of 3.84kWh, this powerhouse can be effortlessly expanded to a staggering 5.38kWh with the addition of expansion packs, ensuring unparalleled versatility for a myriad of applications, from energising campsites to sustaining electric vehicles and even powering homes. The Anker Solix F3800 power station offers an impressive 6,000W output capacity, providing ample power for a diverse range of devices and appliances. It integrates solar energy, the innovative Home Power Panel accessory facilitates efficient solar power cycling, offering sustainable energy solutions wherever you go. Equipped with six AC outputs thoughtfully positioned on the side, the Solix F3800 effortlessly charges and powers heavy-duty gadgets and appliances, ensuring uninterrupted functionality even in the most demanding environments. Additionally, the inclusion of USB Type-A and Type-C ports on the front panel offers convenient charging options for smartphones, laptops, tablets, and more. gadget watch Rabbit R1 The Rabbit R1, the inaugural device from Rabbit, boasts an irresistibly charming design crafted by Teenage Engineering. With its endearing bright orange hue, this little square gadget adds a touch of aesthetic appeal to any space. Featuring a compact 2.88-inch touchscreen, an analog scroll wheel, two mics, a speaker, and a unique “360-degree rotational eye” camera, the Rabbit R1 offers both style and functionality. Easily interact with the Rabbit AI by pressing and holding the “Push-to-Talk” button, unleashing its capabilities with a simple command. Powered by Rabbit OS, the R1 utilises the innovative Large Action Model (LAM) to execute tasks seamlessly across interfaces. From booking an Uber to finding recipes and identifying music samples, the Rabbit R1 proves its versatility in controlled video demos. The rotating camera ensures privacy by default, activating only when summoned, while its real-world interaction capabilities spark curiosity. Watch as the Rabbit R1 suggests low-calorie recipes based on fridge contents or identifies objects with ease.edge_march 2024 55 NINTENDO SWITCH- OLED MODEL Get ready to elevate your gaming experience with the next generation Nintendo Switch – OLED Model. Featuring a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen, this innovative system delivers vivid colours and crisp contrast for an immersive gaming experience that will leave you breathless. With its wide, adjustable stand, finding the perfect viewing angle is a breeze, whether you’re playing solo or engaging in multiplayer action with friends. Flip out the sturdy stand for convenient tabletop mode, ideal for spontaneous gaming sessions and quick multiplayer showdowns. Connectivity is seamless with the built-in wired LAN port, ensuring smooth online gameplay in TV mode without any interruptions. Plus, with 64 GB of internal storage, you’ll have plenty of space to save your favourite games and downloadable content. Enhanced audio brings every game to life, whether you’re playing in tabletop mode or handheld mode. Immerse yourself in rich, immersive sound quality that enhances every gaming session. Explore gaming in three exciting modes: dock your system for HD gaming on your TV in TV mode, share the screen for multiplayer fun in tabletop mode, or pick up and play anywhere with the Joy-Con controllers attached in handheld mode. With the Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, the possibilities are endless. From local co-op play with friends to linking up wirelessly with other Switch systems, or engaging in online play with a Nintendo Switch Online membership, there’s something for everyone.Samsung Galaxy A15 5G: The budget smartphone champion By Sindhu V Kashyap SMARTPHONES A medley of quality, performance, and affordability review 56 edge_march 2024review edge_march 2024 57 L ooking for an affordable smartphone that doesn’t compromise on quality or performance? Look no further than the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G, a budget-friendly powerhouse that punches well above its weight. Priced at $199.99, this device boasts a large, crisp display, exceptional battery life, expandable storage, and robust performance, making it a tough competitor to beat in its price range. Design and build The Galaxy A15 5G inherits Samsung’s sleek design ethos, resembling its higher-priced counterparts like the Galaxy S23 FE and S24+. While it may lack some premium finishes, the phone feels sturdy in hand with a Dragontrail Pro glass display and a plastic back and frame. Despite its budget-friendly tag, Samsung retains essential features like a headphone jack and microSD slot, which are increasingly rare in midrange and high-end devices. The device sports a vibrant 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, delivering sharp visuals and smooth animations for an immersive viewing experience. Powered by a MediaTek 6835 SoC with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (expandable up to 1TB), the Galaxy A15 5G handles everyday tasks with ease, though intensive gaming may experience occasional lag at higher settings. review Battery life Battery life is where the Galaxy A15 5G truly shines, lasting an impressive 14 hours and 3 minutes during battery rundown tests—an upgrade from its predecessor, the A14. While lacking wireless charging, the device supports fast 25W wired charging, ensuring you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time on the go. With support for C-band 5G and Wi-Fi 5, the A15 offers decent connectivity options, although it lacks eSIM support. Camera and software The A15 features a versatile camera setup, including a 50MP main camera, a 5MP ultra- wide camera, and a 2MP macro camera, delivering decent image quality for its price point. Running on Android 14 with Samsung One UI 6.0, the device offers a user-friendly interface and benefits from Samsung’s commitment to four OS upgrades and five years of security updates—a rare feat in the budget smartphone segment. With its impressive display, robust performance, exceptional battery life, and long-term software support, the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G emerges as the top choice for budget-conscious consumers seeking a reliable Android smartphone. While it may not boast the bells and whistles of flagship models, it definitely has unbeatable value proposition and solid features. 58 edge_ march 2024 S ince I started working in this industry, I see the same content circulating during women’s day celebrating their achievements and ‘breaking the glass ceiling’. This is one of the reasons why I hate ‘Women’s Day’. Don’t get me wrong, being a woman myself I love my ladies. But why are we acknowledging the achievements on one single day/month and why is there a glass ceiling to begin with? Though the same discussion on ‘Women in Tech’ circulate around women’s day, there still remain very few female tech leaders in the industry. Companies are even taking up this as an opportunity to commercialise or market themselves. Surrounding myself with some amazing tech leaders, I’ve always wondered, if there were no change makers and a few women who wanted to break the conventional norms of what women should do, what would the technology industry look like now? For a change, let’s see what the technology industry would have looked like if women were not involved in the sector. Women have made significant contributions to the technology sector, shaping the industry in various ways. One of the first people that comes to my mind is Ada Lovelace. Being a literature graduate, I was a huge fan of her father’s work and was astonished to realise how she was one of the first women to ‘break the glass ceiling’ and steered away from literature to choose the STEM sector. She is considered the world’s first computer programmer. Imagining a world without programming seems impossible. Computers would be nothing but a useless piece of box and plastic (maybe considered as a bigger calculator). Her groundbreaking invention laid the foundation for the development of computer programming as we know it today. Dr Shirley Ann Jackson’s research in theoretical physics helped lay the foundation for advances in telecommunications and data communication. If these women had been unable to make their contributions, the technology industry may have been facing a setback. Their inventions and innovations have had a significant impact on the industry, paving the way for further progress and development. I am not saying that without them these technologies wouldn’t have been invented. Now that wouldn’t make sense. Would it? But in an ever-evolving industry like technology, a delay in inventions like these would set the sector years or even decades behind. Yet, nothing much has changed. Women still have to break the glass ceiling, which looks like a regular ceiling in many companies. They still have to fight for their rights and even in the 21st century, women in STEM are still not common. When I talk about a CEO, most people picture a man. Why? As of 2024, women currently hold only 26.7 per cent of tech-related jobs, and just 10.9 per cent are holding CEO or senior leadership roles. Maybe we should stop celebrating women’s day and start acknowledging their contribution just as much as we acknowledge men’s. We don’t need a day to celebrate us. Give us 365 days of equal opportunity. Haven’t women proved enough times that they don’t need to be treated differently? “As of 2024, women currently hold only 26.7 per cent of tech- related jobs, and just 10.9 per cent are holding CEO or senior leadership roles” Why I don’t celebrate International Women’s Day By Arya Devi Commercial Editor, edge backlogthe voice of the digital revolution provocative. innovative. insightful. FOR COMMERCIAL ENQUIRIES Priyanka Pillai Group Commercial Manager T: +971 4 444 3399 M: +971 52 576 0260 E: priyanka.pillai@itp.com AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION www.edgemiddleeast.comNext >