Page 85 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

African Telecommunications Union Calls for Harmonized Action by

Telecommunications Regulators and Operators in Africa

The African Telecommunications Union radio and television, cable television, providers must have redundancy networks
(ATU), a specialized agency of the African emergency radio, amateur radio, satellite to handle traffic from other providers
Union in the field of telecommunications, direct broadcast, and digital signage that experience difficulties. Broadcasters
has put together a set of guidelines to assist networks (highway signs, billboards, should support communication and
in combating the Coronavirus disease automobile and rail traffic control), among messaging strategies to the public in
(COVID-19) pandemic that every Member others. coordination with all the other agencies
State should consider. Africa has so far 2. Collaborative Practical Measures that are involved.
recorded relatively few coronavirus cases Regulators should adopt the following: (d) Amateur radio operators and
compared to the rest of the world. Twenty- (a) Network Capacity simplification of type-approval processes
seven African countries have recorded Fixed and mobile telephony providers Radio amateurs are community based
over 357 coronavirus cases, according to should reserve some dedicated network and should be involved in the information
the World Health Organization on Thursday capacity which should be made available dissemination mitigation processes for
19th March 2020. Egypt leads in cumulated free of charge to the authorities handling COVID-19. Any type-approval acceptance
confirmed cases at 196, South Africa 116, COVID-19. could be waived during the period of
Algeria 72, Morocco 49, and Senegal 36. (b) Emergency Numbers emergency for equipment to be used
Other countries with over ten cases include Fixed and mobile telephony providers by amateur radio operators or those
Tunisia, Burkina Faso, D.R. Congo, Rwanda should implement and enable the processes simplified in order to gain time,
and Cameroon. However, Heads of States emergency numbers, for example 119, for example, not subjecting such equipment
and Governments across the continent for voice messaging and promote short to taxation at all. Regulatory authorities
are taking no chances as they race to message service (SMS) as an alternative should recognize foreign type approvals
stop the spread of the virus by sensitizing to telephony communications during this to expedite the process and rely on the
their citizens about the pandemic and period. Emergency agencies – such as guidelines of the ITU Telecommunication
the various ways to combat the disease. police, ministries of health and hospitals Standardization Sector (ITU-T).
Globally, telecoms/ICTs have become a should adequately size their network 3. Streamlined Regulation Processes
pillar in the prevention, preparedness and capacity, e.g. lines and access trunks, Rapid response in the wake of a disaster
response to the COVID-19 pandemic. to offer an efficient service when call is critical. Consequently, regulators should
The ATU, through the Secretary-General, demand is high. Also, telecommunication streamline the process to allow telecom/
Mr. John Omo, is urging the Ministries providers and amateur radio operators ICT services to be available as soon as
of ICT, through the telecommunications need to perform periodic emergency drills possible. The following strategies should
regulators and operators in the Member together. The public should adequately be be considered by regulators:
States, to consider implementing the informed of the availability of the service (a) Telecom/ICT services licensing
following recommendations/guidelines to free of charge. As the continents fight the COVID-19
fight COVID-19 pandemic: © Guidelines for action during emergencies pandemic, the telecom/ICT regulatory
1. Activation of the Common Alerting Calls to emergency numbers should be authority should urgently grant telecom/
Protocol (CAP) free. Local and long-distance backbone ICT service licenses necessary to
Regulators should implement the
Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) to
enable authorities to effectively prevent
and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The
CAP involves the use of multiple modes
of communication to educate Members
of the public including vulnerable groups
about the disease as well as the preventive
measures. The CAP will make it possible
for members of the public to receive CAP-
originated information in many ways, such
as through mobile and landline telephones,
Internet (e-mail, Google, Facebook,
Twitter, WhatsApp, smartphone apps,
online advertising, Internet of Things (IoT)
devices, in-home smart speakers, etc.),
sirens (in-building or outdoor), broadcast

85 APRIL 2020