Page 90 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

A SNAPSHOT OF REGULATORY ACTIVITIES

IN SAMENA REGION

Bahrain

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Bahrain that 60% of all disputes received last year were related to Mobile
announced the publication of their latest Quality of Service Report, services, whereas Broadband disputes made up 24%, Fixed
shedding light on the progress of 5G Networks. A comparison Line services made up 11%, and 5% to other disputes such as
between 4G and 5G performance shows average speeds of calling cards. TRA Director of Consumer Affair & Media Shaikh
approximately 80 megabits per second compared to 5G’s average Abdulla Bin Humood Al Khalifa stated that “Consumer Protection
of approximately 600 megabits per second, though records higher and Awareness, as well as ensuring compliance among service
than 1 GB per second were observed. According to the report, the providers is a main pillar of the TRA’s Mission, and we take every
availability of modern telecommunications services and ensuring precaution to ensure that consumers are represented fairly.”
their quality are critical elements for the success of the Kingdom Shaikh Abdulla further added that, “We have consistently been
of Bahrain’s digital economy. Such services are heavily used and spreading awareness among consumers to enable them to make
will be used even further with the growth of IOT by consumers informed decisions and depend on the TRA to handle consumer
in the Kingdom of Bahrain.The report included some important disputes in the sector. These efforts have been successful thus
observations about the coverage of 5G Networks. It showed the far, as the rise in the number of complaints reflects that more
coverage areas on the map of Bahrain to enable the consumer to and more consumers are becoming aware of our role.” TRA
know the current coverage areas, which is expected to increase also continued its efforts to enhance communication channels
in the near future. Commenting on the report, Eng. Mohamed between TRA and all consumer segments and improve the level
Alnoaimi, TRA’s Director of Technical & Operations, stated that of services provided to them, as it launched the video call service
“This report and audit is something we carry out regularly in the to subscribers with special needs to facilitate the communication
interest of monitoring the current state of mobile coverage in process and educate them of their rights as consumers in the
the kingdom, giving consumers insight into decisions on which telecom sector. TRA’s Consumer Call Center (81188) has received
operator covers their area best, and serves their needs.” He more than 31,000 calls since its inception, with an average of 96%
further added that “This time around, we’ve covered the latest success rate of responses to the calls. “Mobile services represent
results on how 5G adoption is progressing and developing, and the largest segment of disputes on a consistent basis, year on
the information we’ve gathered will be important to consumers year.” Says Amna Al Ghatam, TRA Manager of Consumer Affairs.
and businesses deciding whether it’s time to transfer wireless “Statistically, Mobile subscriptions outnumber every other service
internet services from 4G to 5G technologies, and the data speaks in the sector, thus this is expected, paired with the fact that mobile
for itself.” (April 21, 2020) tra.org.bh service disputes comprise of mobile data, calls, coverage, billing
and roaming, among other factors. We expect dispute cases to
According to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority’s continue rising as our awareness efforts continue. We welcome
latest statistics, 1,597 consumer disputes out of 1,604 were and urge consumers to approach us with any issues they face
resolved by the TRA in 2019, an 89% increase in number of with their telecom services by escalating their disputes through
disputes from 2018. The TRA’s Consumer Affairs arm determined our channels.” (April 1, 2020) tra.org.bh

Bangladesh

Mobile phone operators have asked the telecom regulator to the government at least for a couple of months so that they can
allocate some spectrum for free for the time being, reasoning that tackle the fallout of the coronavirus. Mobile carriers share 6.5 per
their network had become busier for a surge in data use amid cent of their gross revenue with the government. The telecom
the novel coronavirus-induced ongoing lockdown. The carriers sector is experiencing challenges similar to what all other areas of
also requested Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory the economy are going through due to the coronavirus pandemic,
Commission (BTRC) to exempt them from sharing revenue with according to the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of

90 APRIL 2020