BE Magazine - August 2026

The Horizon of 6G for Arab Banks REGULATION NEEDED FOR 6G The rollout of 6G will require new regulatory frameworks to ensure safe, secure, and equitable adoption. Gov- ernments and international bodies like the ITU IMT 2030 framework must establish rules for spectrum al- location in terahertz bands, while na- tional regulators will need to modernize licensing regimes to ac- commodate non terrestrial networks such as satellites and drones. Strong cybersecurity and quantum commu- nication standards will be essential to protect sensitive data, alongside up- dated privacy regulations for AI na- tive networks that process massive amounts of contextual information. Additionally, environmental and en- ergy efficiency policies will be needed to manage the high power demands of terahertz infrastructure, and cross border harmonization will be critical to avoid fragmentation and ensure global interoperability. In short, 6G regulation must balance in- novation with security, sustainability, and inclusivity. INVESTMENT IN 6G INFRASTRUCTURE Global investment in 6G infrastruc- ture is rapidly expanding, with tele- com operators, semiconductor firms, and governments committing billions toward terahertz spectrum networks, AI-native architectures, and satellite- terrestrial integration. Japan’s NTT DOCOMO has allocated nearly $6 billion in 2026 for mobile upgrades, South Korea’s SK Telecom and KT are funding AI-RAN and satellite sys- tems, United States U.S. and Euro- pean vendors like Nokia, Ericsson, and Qualcomm are driving Open RAN and intelligent surfaces, while China continues to lead with Huawei and ZTE’s large-scale testbeds, col- lectively pushing global spending be- yond $47 billion in 2026 and setting the stage for a commercial rollout around 2030, though challenges of regulatory harmonization, high cap- ital expenditure, and cybersecurity risks remain critical hurdles. the BANKING EXECUTIVE 12 ISSUE 212 AUGUST 2026 CHALLENGES OF 6G IN LEBANON Lebanon’s path toward 6G is con- strained by multiple challenges, in- cluding the irregular unlicensed broadband use, the need for regula- tory modernization to align with ITU IMT 2030 standards, and limited in- frastructure investment caused by fi- nancial constraints that hinder de- ployment of fiber backhaul and AI-native networks, compounded by severe economic and political insta- bility, which reduces investor confi- dence, and the absence of updated cybersecurity and compliance frame- works. Lebanon risks falling behind regional leaders like the UAE and Saudi Arabia unless international partnerships and targeted reforms ac- celerate its readiness for 6G. 6G Challenges in Lebanon Challenge Details Impact Spectrum Refarming Regulatory Modernization Infrastructure Investment Economic Instability Cybersecurity & Compliance TRA reorganizing 2.3–3.5 GHz & 26 GHz Need ITU-aligned licensing Limited funding for fiber & small cells Currency crisis, low investor confidence Need updated standards & quantum security Delays due to irregular unlicensed use Slows 5G/6G readiness Weak network capacity Slower adoption vs Gulf states Risk of insecure rollout 6G in Arab Markets Category Countries Focus Areas Innovation Leaders Modernisation Markets Developing/Resilience Markets UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine AI-native networks, smart cities, giga-projects Connectivity expansion, regulatory reform, infrastructure upgrades Overcoming political/economic constraints, focusing on resilience and service delivery