· New Calling provides barrier-free communication for the hearing impaired and elderly
· Integrates ultra-HD, intelligent and interactive capabilities into existing VolTE/VoNR network.
· Serves the 200,000 + people in Saudi Arabia with hearing impairments
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 28 November 2024:
stc Group digital enabler, in collaboration with Huawei introduced communication solution—New Calling—to its voice network, aiming to provide barrier-free communication for the hearing impaired and the elderly. By harnessing intelligent technologies, New Calling enables a wide range of communication features, like speech-to-text conversion during calls.
To achieve barrier-free communication, stc Group integrates ultra-HD, intelligent, and interactive capabilities into its existing VoLTE/VoNR network. By adding content channels, stc Group enabled speech-to-text conversion and font changes during voice and video calls. This paves the way for AI-powered multi-model communications. Users can also customize font sizes, colors, and display positions according to their needs, delivering an outstanding user experience. The collaboration between stc Group and Huawei has also paved the way for other innovative applications.
Approximately 200,000 to 300,000 people in Saudi Arabia experience hearing impairments across various age groups. Notably, hearing impairments are relatively prevalent among children and adolescents, with around 2,500 to 3,000 newborns diagnosed annually, according to the Saudi Ministry of Health. Aligned with stc Group’s commitment to community value, New Calling technology supports people with hearing impairments by using advanced speech recognition algorithms to convert speech into readable text in real time, enabling barrier-free communication. It empowers hearing-impaired and older individuals to participate more confidently and conveniently in social life, contributing to a more inclusive and harmonious society.
New Calling solution of stc
Not only does New Calling address the challenges faced by the hearing impaired and the elderly, but it also draws attention to the help needed by vulnerable groups. The future holds great promise for innovative technologies and this will drive societal progress towards a more human-centered and intelligent direction.
With New Calling supported by a robust cloud infrastructure and AI capabilities, stc continues to incubate new services like Real-Time Translation for international tourism industry, Visualized Voice Calling for enterprise hotline and personal users. The comprehensive upgrade of the 5G-Advanced network brings new imaginations, and opens up a brand-new business landscape. stc Group is championing a world where the benefits of science and technology reach every corner that needs it.
Haithem M. Alfaraj, Group Chief Technology Officer, said: "As New Calling continues to mature and gain widespread adoption, we're confident that it will unlock more possibilities and benefits for diverse groups. In the future, stc Group will introduce data channel technology to enable real-time interactions on the call screen and integrate short messaging capabilities into calls—all designed to empower the hearing-impaired community to communicate more effectively. As technologies advance, text messages can even be converted into speech during calls."
About stc Groupstc Group is a digital enabler, offering advanced solutions and driving a role in the digitalization process. The group provides a comprehensive suite of services encompassing digital infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, Internet of Things (IoT), digital payments, digital media, and digital entertainment. The group comprises 13 subsidiaries across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.
To know more about stc group: http://www.stc.com/
