STC CEO lauds Kingdom’s digital infrastructure
Nasser Sulaiman Al-Nasser, STC Group CEO, expressed pride in the Kingdom’s digital infrastructure that he said has helped to mitigate the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic. He said investing in technology a long time ago has enabled the telecom sector to undertake its central role in this crisis.
“I am proud of our country’s achievements in facing the current circumstances. This crisis never put our lives on hold; it has enriched our creative ideas and we dedicated all kinds of technology in the service of our Kingdom, citizens and residents. We can all appreciate the role of digital technology in enriching people’s lives and its effective role in combating disease. We have drones that take the temperature of mall visitors and we offer remote health care services for patients,” Al-Nasser said. He made this statement while taking part in the launch of the “Hope Hackathon” workshop by Deputy Minister at the Ministry Of Communications And Information Technology (MCIT), Dr.
Ahmed Al-Thenayan.
The “Hope Hackathon” was launched in late April by the MCIT in strategic cooperation with the Saudi Arabian Federation for Electronic and Intellectual Sports (SAFEIS) and STC. It aims to promote digital innovations and highlight the digital capabilities of youth worldwide to face the current crisis. Al-Nasser added: “Our partnership in the international ‘Hope Hackathon’ for which prizes will reach $1 million to develop creative ideas is a reflection of our approach. We have dedicated ourselves to supporting creativity and creative people around the world.” He reiterated the group’s commitment to its strategy that supports innovation in the field of digital and smart solutions and said that this is the best time to invest in creative ideas for unique technological solutions while people are staying home as part of the precautionary measures taken to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The chief executive said that STC has been a pioneer in supporting entrepreneurs and startups through its InspireU program that has assisted many successful projects in the fields of education, health and marketing applications. He highlighted the “Rawafed” program that aims to promote local content.
“Being the leading digital enabler in the Kingdom, STC has a responsibility to actively contribute to the Kingdom’s digital economy. I hope that we will continue to support innovators and their projects and that this kind of an event will help them achieve their dreams and turn them into a reality. Indeed, creativity has no limits,” he added.