Towards Sustainable Digital Transformation: 5G/6G Adoption and E-Waste Management in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24203/aqxg5372Keywords:
Electronic waste, Saudi-Arabia, sustainable development, 5 G, 6 G, Vision 2030, digital transformation, circular economyAbstract
The rapid evolution of the network generation of mobile technologies alters the economic system of the world, redefines the industries, and accelerates the digital transformation. The adoption of technologies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is at the center of the objectives of Vision 2030, which is to diversify the economy, reduce the effect of oil revenues, and turn the country into a digital hub. However, the similar issue of electronic waste (e-waste), which threatens environmental sustainability and human health, is also an aspect of technological progress. The two-fold agenda of the paper regarding the improved uptake of 5G and concurrently e-waste management in Saudi Arabia is a solution to sustainable economic development. The paper determines the opportunities and threats of the next generation (6G) of telecommunication and e-waste dynamics by integrating the services of secondary data analysis, international benchmarking, and policy review. The results reveal that Saudi Arabia has significantly advanced in 5G deployment and digital infrastructure, and the amount of e-waste is growing annually; the policy ought to address the issue. The paper suggests a combined framework that connects the use of technology to the concept of the circular economy and makes suggestions, including incentive recycling schemes, government-corporate collaboration, and investment in green telecommunication infrastructure. The study is an appendix to the subject of sustainable digital transformation and presents policy implications, which might be applied to new economies that want to modernize their economy, and yet are concerned about the environment.
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