Page 95 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

the meeting to discuss ways to harness technology to combat technology services to all users and enterprises across the
the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). During the meeting, Dr. Al- Kingdom. CITC revealed that mobile service providers have been
Tamimi delivered a speech in which he expressed the Kingdom temporarily licensed to use an additional 40 MHz in the 700 MHz
of Saudi Arabia's keenness and commitment to combat this and 800 MHz bands, which represents a 50% increase in the
pandemic through taking precautionary and preventive measures. spectrum holdings of Saudi service providers in those bands. CITC
He pointed out that the safe communication has become an said that the activation plan for these frequencies commenced on
important requirement today, in light of the of applying the remote March 26th and noted that service providers networks showcased
work procedures taken by most countries, noting that the Kingdom a considerable increase in quality of service and mobile internet
witnessed during the last short period an increasing demand for speeds in the areas where these frequencies have been activated.
communications and information technology services. He also CITC is predicting further performance gains as these frequencies
affirmed that the Kingdom has taken early measures to harness are fully activated in service providers networks across the
technology to serve many social and economic fields. Kingdom over the next few days. Last week, CITC revealed that
(April 4, 2020) spa.gov.sa since the implementation of the preventive measures against the
spread of the Corona virus, the daily mobile and fixed Internet
The Communications and Information Technology Commission traffic have increased by 66,000 Terabytes, a 33% increase over
(CITC) has awarded additional spectrum for mobile service February's daily average. CITC also acknowledged the cooperation
providers in the Kingdom as preventive measures against the and crucial role played by mobile service providers in the Kingdom
spread of the Corona virus are being implemented in the Kingdom to maintain the quality and reliability of services provided to all
and many countries around the world. The aim of this decision is to users and enterprises in the Kingdom.
boost the performance of 4G and 5G networks in the Kingdom and (April 1, 2020) citc.gov.sa
ensure uninterrupted delivery of communication and information

Sri Lanka

Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine together either the Google PlayStore, Huawei Appstore store and Apple
with the Information and Communication Technology Agency app store, citizens will be prompted to record their location at
(ICTA) of Sri Lanka, the apex ICT institution in the country has the time of using the application. The application locally maps
developed an application to inform, engage and react to the deadly the trail of the mobile app user's locations traveled so that in an
spread of the New Coronavirus also known as COVID-19 under the unfortunate event of the app user being infected with the virus,
instructions of his excellency the President Gotabhaya Rajapakse. they can disclose the stored location history information with
This is in the wake of a global pandemic reaching the shores of the authorities to protect their family and friends who they have
Sri Lanka and with the steadily rising number of infected citizens, associated with, in the last 14-days. All recorded location data
the need for a robust mobile application was felt. Representatives are kept securely within the mobile, and will not be transmitted to
from both organizations including volunteers from the private any external systems without the consent of the mobile app user.
sector worked tirelessly to ensure that through this app citizens If you have crossed paths with an infected individual, you have
will have access to a news feed that shares verified information the option to self-register with the national disease surveillance
on the current MyHealth Sri Lanka mobile app populated by system.
data shared by medical authorities. Once downloaded through (April 13, 2020) adaderana.lk

United Arab Emirates

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, TRA, has the authority said on Wednesday. Commenting on this milestone,
announced that 42,000 trainees from 83 countries had taken Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, TRA Director-General, said that the
advantage of the free training courses available on the TRA TRA Academy has proven UAE’s readiness to face challenges.
Academy (previously Virtual Academy) during the last week "We in the UAE believe that the development and training of
of March. This shows a significant increase in the number of human resources must continue under all circumstances, being
trainees, which demonstrates the success of the academy as a the most valuable asset and the most important force. In light of
modern solution for those wishing to develop their capabilities the conditions the world is witnessing, and the near-full halt of
and their personal and professional knowledge, especially in light training and educational centers in most countries of the world,
of the exceptional circumstances the world is witnessing today, the TRA Academy has been a solution accessible to thousands

95 APRIL 2020