KUWAIT: Zain Kuwait and Rakuten Symphony have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see the organizations collaborate on a pilot project to establish a functional cloud-native Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) in the country. Zain Kuwait will utilize Rakuten Symphony’s ORAN and Cloudportfolio to deliver 5G Standalone sites as part of a project that will represent Kuwait’s first Open RAN deployment of its kind.

The MoU was signed at Rakuten Symphony’s headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, by Daaij Al-Oud, Chief Technology Officer at Zain Kuwait, and Sharad Sriwastawa, President of Rakuten Symphony, along with executive teams from both partners. The project will be the initial phase for planned large scale commercial deployment of Open RAN in Kuwait and across Zain Group, which operates in eight markets across the Middle East and North Africa region.

As part of the project, Rakuten Symphony will supply its innovative Open RAN virtualized Distributed Unit and Centralized Unit software, along with cloud-native virtualized software, as well as ensuring that its Open RAN solution is fully functional and capable of handling commercial traffic. Zain Kuwait will allocate the required cell sites as well as providing data center infrastructure and 5G SAcore with related transport connectivity.

Al-Oud and Sriwastawa with Zain and Rakuten Symphony executives in Tokyo.

Exchange of commemorative gifts.

Daaij Al-Oud said, “This collaboration with Rakuten Symphony marks a significant step in our journey to transform Kuwait’s telecom infrastructure. By piloting the country’s first cloud-native Open RAN deployment, we aim to unlock new levels of network agility, efficiency and scalability. This initiative is not just a technological milestone for Zain Kuwait, but a strategic move that aligns with our broader vision of leading digital innovation across the region.”

Sharad Sriwastawa said, “Rakuten Symphony is pleased to support Zain Kuwait in delivering the country’s first Open RAN deployment of its kind. By venturing into networks driven by cloud-native, open principles and leveraging Rakuten Symphony’s proven portfolio, Zain Kuwait has the potential to realize the benefits of increased operational flexibility and reduced time to market, in turn delivering better performance for customers.” Rakuten Mobile, in collaboration with Rakuten Symphony, will apply the achievements obtained from the “Research and Development Project of the Enhanced Infrastructures for Post-5G Information and Communication Systems (JPNP20017)”, subsidized by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

• Daaij Al-Oud: “By piloting the country’s first cloud-native Open RAN deployment, we aim to unlock new levels of network agility, efficiency and scalability”

• Sharad Sriwastawa: “Leveraging Rakuten Symphony’s proven portfolio, Zain aims to boost network agility and accelerate service delivery for an enhanced customer experience”

BERN: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday awarded the 2025 His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for the Promotion of Healthy Ageing to Professor Huali Wang of China and Kuwait’s Ministry of Health, represented by the Geriatric Healthcare Directorate, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to elderly care.

The award ceremony was held at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva on the sidelines of the WHO’s 78th World Health Assembly. The event was attended by Kuwait’s Minister of Health Dr Ahmad Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi, Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva Ambassador Nasser Al-Hayen, Assistant Undersecretary for External Health Services Hisham Kelendar, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as well as senior WHO officials and representatives of member states.

WHO officials commended Professor Wang’s pivotal role in developing China’s national geriatric care and Alzheimer’s strategies, which included forming over 150 care teams across 27 regions, advancing early diagnosis, and promoting public education and caregiver training in partnership with WHO. Kuwait was similarly recognized for its progress in the field, particularly the development of a national elderly care strategy (2024–2030), which has enhanced healthcare services for the elderly by more than 40 percent.

WHO affirmed that the recipients were selected following an extensive evaluation by an independent expert panel. The prize, established by the State of Kuwait, is awarded annually to individuals and institutions that demonstrate excellence in advancing the health and well-being of older people. Separately, Kuwait hosted a high-level event in Geneva titled “Enhancing the Quality of Health Care through Medical Accountability.” Held in cooperation with WHO, the event drew participation from health ministers, ambassadors, WHO leaders, and representatives of regional and international health organizations.

In his remarks, Dr Al-Awadhi reaffirmed Kuwait’s firm commitment to fostering transparency and accountability within the healthcare system, emphasizing their vital role in improving patient safety and operational efficiency. “Kuwait is dedicated to institutionalizing medical responsibility as a core pillar of healthcare reform,” he said, highlighting recent reforms aimed at elevating standards of care.

Chairman of the Medical Accountability Authority Sheikh Dr Salman Al-Sabah presented Kuwait’s pioneering model of medical oversight, noting that the independent authority reviews professional conduct, investigates patient complaints and issues expert assessments. He emphasized that the authority functions within a framework that upholds impartiality and public trust.

WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhi praised Kuwait’s approach, describing it as a “leading example” of transparent and integrated medical accountability in the region. WHO expert Jill Campbell echoed these sentiments, calling on neighboring countries to adopt similar models and expand regional cooperation on health governance.

The event featured in-depth dialogue on global best practices and challenges in healthcare oversight, concluding with a set of recommendations. These included enhancing national legislation on medical accountability, ensuring the independence of regulatory bodies, advancing research in the field, and strengthening WHO’s capacity-building efforts at regional and international levels. — KUNA

ISTANBUL: Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah underscored the importance of enhancing international dialogue on family-related issues during a visit to an exhibition in Istanbul on Saturday. Speaking to KUNA, Dr Al-Huwailah praised the exhibition titled “All Happy Families Are Alike”, held on the sidelines of the recently concluded International Family Forum, which was hosted by Turkey under the auspices of its Family and Social Services Ministry.

The minister toured the exhibition alongside Turkey’s First Lady Emine Erdogan and senior officials from various countries. Dr Al-Huwailah commended Turkey’s leading role in championing family issues, expressing appreciation to the Turkish First Lady for her efforts in promoting the values reflected in the exhibition. She noted that the event powerfully highlights the family’s central role in reinforcing humanitarian ties and fostering social cohesion.

Held under the theme “Safeguarding and Strengthening Family in the Face of Global Challenges”, the two-day forum brought together ministers, policymakers, experts, and representatives of civil society to address contemporary challenges facing families and explore global best practices. The forum is part of Turkey’s broader “2025 Year of the Family” initiative and featured ministerial-level sessions and four panel discussions aimed at exchanging expertise and successful strategies to protect and empower families worldwide. — KUNA