Page 93 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

indicates the readiness of the infrastructure in the Kingdom American company (DRS ICAS LLC) related to the purchase of a
for the communications system and the ability to maintain its mobile system to check and monitor the frequency spectrum in
sustainability under any pressures or unforeseen circumstances. the Kingdom. Dr. Jabour also discussed the role played by the
Dr. Jabour indicated that the authority is constantly monitoring authority with regard to measuring the quality of communication
the performance of the licensed communication networks system services provided by the concerned companies and the projects
through the reports of technical networks presented by the three implemented by the authority in this regard, in addition to clarifying
cellular companies to the authority every 12 hours and working the measures taken by the authority with regard to technical
to match the indicators through the performance monitoring and quality approvals, and those related to developing services
systems of automated networks with the authority and applied provided to its auditors such as the creation of the auditor service
since 2018, as the results have shown Increased use of messaging room and the opening of A permanent office for the authority at
applications, WhatsApp and Instagram by 40%, and social media the airport, the authority’s projects related to communications
applications for visual flow such as Facebook video, YouTube and markets, and the authority’s role in controlling violations related to
Tuk Tok accounted for 52% of the total data flow. It is noteworthy the postal sector during the last period, in addition to dealing with
that the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority was the first the preparations made by the authority to host social activities
to grant temporary and emergency frequencies at the global XIV sector of the Arab Network for Arab Telecommunications
level for cellular companies in response to the growing demand Regulatory bodies and information technology to be held later this
for the expected use of data in the current circumstances that month (April) and recognizes the authority of the presidency of the
the Kingdom is going through in response to the visions of the network in 2016. On the other hand, Dr. Jabour reviewed the most
country's master in the efforts of all state institutions to overcome important projects and future plans of the authority with regard
the consequences of this crisis. (April 7, 2020) trc.gov.jo to quality control, granting quality approvals and introducing
communications devices to the Kingdom, in addition to projects
The Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Dr. Eng. Ghazi Al- related to telecommunications markets and spectrum affairs and
Jabour, held a press conference for delegates of daily newspapers protecting the interests of beneficiaries, and the authority directed
and the Jordanian News Agency (Petra), in the presence of towards launching the award for the best operator in accordance
Commissioners and a number of concerned managers. During with specialized standards represented in The quality of technical
the press conference, Dr. Al-Jabbour presented a number of services, the extent of dealing with complaints and the quality of
specialized cases that the authority has followed during the past services as perceived by the citizen. (April 3, 2020) trc.gov.jo
period, such as the arbitration case between the authority and the

Nepal

Ncell, Nepal’s second largest mobile network operator (MNO) Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.’ The LTO ordered Ncell
in terms of subscribers, has settled in full the NPR22.44 billion to pay the disputed CGT bill in full in December 2019, following
(USD182 million) capital gains tax (CGT) bill levied by the a Supreme Court ruling that determined the firm’s outstanding
country’s Large Taxpayers’ Office (LTO), as well as an additional liability in connection with Axiata’s acquisition of an 80% stake in
sum of NPR990.25 million in interest. In a statement, parent the Nepalese operator from Sweden’s Telia in 2016. Axiata referred
company Axiata Group noted ‘Ncell’s payment of the total the issue to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment
amount was made under protest and expressly without prejudice Disputes, arguing the imposition of the tax contravenes Nepal’s
to Ncell and Axiata UK’s position in the international arbitration international legal obligations under the bilateral investment
proceedings commenced by Ncell and Axiata UK against the treaty (BIT). (April 14, 2020) commsupdate.com

Oman

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has unveiled to set up 23 stations to cover 450 villages, most of which got
a plan to provide telecom services to 500 rural villages at a cost telecom service in cooperation with licensed operators, Omantel
of RO15 million. Yousef bin Abdullah al Balushi, First Deputy and Ooredoo. Oman Broadband Company will implement the
Chairman of TRA, said in a statement to Oman News Agency new project, either through fiber optic or satellite as part of the
that the project got the approval of the Ministry of Finance to set National Broadband Strategy, said al Balushi.
up telecom infrastructure in the selected villages. He explained (April 19, 2020) omannews.gov.om
that the initiative is the second of its kind after an earlier move

93 APRIL 2020