Page 91 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Bangladesh (AMTOB). Mobile carriers are already observing trends in recent times. The commission has the authority to allocate
in usage patterns that may leave a dent on their overall revenue, it spectrum on credit but the operators will have to pay the price in
said. Last week carriers slashed data pack tariffs by up to 50 per line with the rate that has been determined by auction, the BTRC
cent following a request from the telecom regulator, which has chief said. "It is true that spectrum price is higher in Bangladesh
resulted in data usage growth of around 20 per cent. Although but we have nothing to do with it. Only the government has the
data usage is growing rapidly, data monetization is still low for authority to revise it or give it to someone for free," Haque added.
carriers, said SM Farhad, secretary-general of the association. The total number of mobile phone top-ups through retail channels
Over the last couple of days, voice calls have dropped by up to has declined by around 20 per cent due to people limiting their
20 per cent. This is particularly worrying, Farhad said. "Mobile movements, Farhad said. Although telecom has been declared
operators have discussed the matter with the commission but we an emergency service during this crisis period, law enforcement
have said that the BTRC does not have the authority to come up agencies are imposing restrictions on top-up shops in some
with a decision like it," said Md Jahurul Haque, chairman of the places as part of the nationwide lockdown and this is maybe due
regulatory body, regarding the demand on revenue sharing waiver to the ignorance about the government directives, he said. "These
request. "Their expectations are not unrealistic," he told The obstacles are hampering our retail operations, especially the top-
Daily Star. Haque suggested that the carriers discuss the matter up or recharge services." The operators urged the law enforcers
with policymakers. "In my personal view, only the prime minister to extend their cooperation for the smooth functioning of the
can give a decision about it." The BTRC, according to Haque, top-up stores and other recharge outlets. Mobile operators are
can do two things -- give some time to the operators to share encouraging customers to avail top-ups through other options
the revenue and allow the revenue to be paid in installments. such as mobile financial services, electronic money transfers and
Operators have sought 5 megahertz of spectrum from the 2100 mobile applications. (April 5, 2020) thedailystar.net
band as customers are consuming at least 20 per cent more data

Egypt

The National Communications Regulatory Authority issued a 1. Tik Tok: It is an application that is a favorite destination for
report showing high indicators of the use of telecommunications videos for users on mobile phones, and the percentage of
services, in light of the precautionary measures and the using this application increased by 194%.
application of the curfew during the month of March and April, 2. Games: Online gaming applications have increased their
and the completion of the educational process for school and usage rate by 96%.
university students with the distance learning system; where the 3. Netflix: The global platform for watching movies; the use
report shows a significant increase in internet consumption and of this app has increased by 69%.
its applications during the period of the ban and heavy loading On 4. YouTube: a site to watch and download free videos and
communication networks, it will increase peak hours as a result videos, watch, share and comment on them, and this
of the application of the curfew and the subscribers stay longer in application has increased by 41%.
the home. The comparison of the telecom services indicators in 5. Witness: An Arab platform that provides video and
the second week of April with the second week of March shows watching movies and series services in the Middle East,
the following: and this application has increased by 40%.
Voice calls: 6. Applications of social networking sites and networks:
• Increase in international voice calls by 15% • Facebook: 151% increase in application usage.
• Increase in local voice calls by 3% • Instagram: The application has increased by 59%.
Internet: • WhatsApp: Increase application usage by 34%.
• Increase in home internet consumption by 87%. The rate of browsing the educational sites of the ministries
• Yads in mobile internet consumption by 18% of Education and Technical Education, Higher Education
Peak time: and Scientific Research increased to 376.4% in the second
The number of peak time hours for using Internet services and week of April compared to the second week of March. The
applications has doubled to 15 hours per day from 12 noon to National Communications Regulatory Authority confirms
3 am during the second week of April compared to only 7 hours that it is in constant coordination with the four companies,
during the second week of March. telecommunications service providers, to monitor the increases in
The increase in internet consumption was as follows: the usage indicators on a daily basis and to absorb any emergency
• Web Browsing increased by 131%. increases that do not affect the quality of services provided to
• The significant increase in the use of Internet applications and citizens It is worth noting that the Ministry of Communications
the rates of increase in their use, the most important of which and Information Technology had launched a number of initiatives
are: to support the distance learning system, in coordination between

91 APRIL 2020