Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 54 | Page 11

NEWS stc announces localising platform for e-SIM for the first time in KSA Huawei appoints new CEO to oversee Saudi operations Huawei, a leading global provider of Information and Communications Technology infrastructure and smart devices, has announced the appointment of Terry He as CEO for Huawei Tech Investment Saudi Arabia. Based in Riyadh, He will be responsible for overseeing Huawei’s Saudi operations and for guiding the company’s work as a strategic partner in accelerating Digital Transformation in the Kingdom. Previously, He held the position of President of Huawei Middle East Enterprise Business Group where he oversaw the development of the group across the region. In that role, he worked closely with organisations in various industries such as government, oil and gas, education, financial services, healthcare, hospitality and construction to embrace emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, cloud computing and more. As a seasoned industry expert in the Middle East, He has more than 10 years of experience working across multiple Huawei offices in the region. Saudi Arabian telco, stc, will launch localising platforms for e-SIM services for the first time in the Kingdom. The move will transform the way consumers use smart phones and devices in Saudi Arabia, allowing them more flexibility to take control of their digital lives. stc now has the capability to provide e-SIM services to all Mobile and Virtual Network Operators (MNOs/MVNOs) in the Kingdom as a National eSIM Platform. The service can also be extended to any MNO in the Arabian Gulf region. Hiatham Al-Faraj, stc SVP of Technology and Operations, said: “The adoption of eSIM in Saudi Arabia in co-operation with GSMA Certification is a step forward towards achieving the mandates of Saudi Vision 2030 by localising eSIM technology and further enabling Digital Transformation. “We are excited about the possibility of introducing eSIM technology in Saudi Arabia. The SAS Certification process was a challenging one but passing and holding the certification stands as a testimony to stc’s world-class security standards and operational excellence.” eSIM technology eliminates the need for traditional plastic SIM cards and allows subscribers to add and remove operators remotely. The technology will be crucial for fast tracking uptake of IoT technology, particularly in a domestic setting. Charles Yang, President of Huawei Middle East, said: “Terry He brings a wealth of industry knowledge and experience from his time in the region. He has already played a key role in many of Huawei’s regional milestones and we wish him continued success in his new position in Saudi Arabia, as Huawei remains committed to serving its customers and contributing to our digital society.” Terry He, CEO for Huawei Tech Investment Saudi Arabia www.intelligentcio.com INTELLIGENTCIO 11