Page 104 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Minister’s Taskforce on IT and Telecom at the committee room length during the meeting. Federal Minister for IT appreciated
of the Ministry of IT on Wednesday. Federal Secretary Ministry of Sector's growth of more than 23% in IT/ITES Exports. P@SHA
IT Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui was also present in the meeting while representation acknowledged Ministry of IT's support to promote
the Co-Chairman of the PM’s Taksforce on IT and Telecom Dr. growth in IT/ITES Sector. The Federal Minister assured that
Attaur Rehman joined the meeting through video link. Matters Ministry of IT will be available on Sector's disposal to provide
related to spectrum, fabrication and IT exports were discussed every kind of support for IT/ITES Sector's growth.
during the meeting. Addressing the meeting, the Federal Minister (August 13, 2020) moitt.gov.pk
for IT said that merit and transparency are the top priority in the
Ministry of IT and its attached departments. He said that we are The Universal Service Fund (USF) Policy Committee approved
accountable to masses and using our mandate for the betterment annual budget of Rs 11.376 billion for financial year 2020-21 for
and the uplift of the people. He said that youth are the asset and the Fund to carry out different connectivity projects in un-served
work is underway on different projects for creating employment and underserved areas of the country. Federal Minister for IT
opportunities for them through IT industry. Syed Amin Ul Haque and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque Syed Amin Haque
said that Ministry of IT is committed for increasing IT exports chaired 39th meeting of the Universal Service Fund (USF) Policy
and manufacturing of quality mobile phones in Pakistan. He said Committee meeting here on Monday. Federal Secretary Ministry
that work is going on regarding fabrication and steps are being of IT Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui was also present in the meeting.
taken for providing broadband services both in unserved and The meeting approved the minutes of the 38th meeting of the
underserved areas of the country. Federal Minister for IT said that Universal Service Fund Policy Committee meeting. The meeting
he will soon meet Chief Minister Sindh to discuss ending sales tax also gave approval for the USF annual budget of Rs 11.376 billion
on IT export revenue, adding that IT industries are moving from for financial year 2020-21. Universal Service Fund Chief Executive
Sindh to other provinces due to sales tax on IT export revenue. Officer (CEO) Haaris Mahmood Chaudhry briefed the chair about
He said that Prime Minister of Pakistan keeps special interest the USF projects for providing broadband services in unserved and
in the development of the IT sector of Pakistan. He said that underserved areas of the country. According to documents USF
joint efforts and work with honesty is vital for completion of the has spent around Rs 66.044 billion to extend cellular, broadband
vision of digital Pakistan. Earlier, the chair was briefed about the internet, fiber optics and other telecommunication services to un-
recommendations regarding IT and Telecom sector. The meeting served or underserved areas but some areas in Baluchistan as well
was also attended by authorities from PTA, Pakistan Engineering as South Waziristan and Kurram districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Council among others. (August 26, 2020) moitt.gov.pk still lack access to basic telephony and mobile broadband
services. USF was created in 2007 to stretch cellular, broadband
Delegation of Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) internet, fiber optics and other telecommunication services to un-
called on Federal Minister for Information Technology and served or underserved areas. All telecom companies have been
Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque. The Federal Minister contributing 1.5 percent of their revenues to the USF.
for IT welcomed the PASHA delegation in his office, and number (July 27, 2020) phoneworld.com.pk
of ongoing matters including IT exports were discussed at

Saudi Arabia

The Communication and Information Technology Commission will proceed with the release of this unprecedented amount of
(CITC) launched a public consultation to set its five-year outlook commercial spectrum, over the period 2020-2024, to achieve
for commercial and innovative use of radio spectrum. In the the goals of National Spectrum Strategy. “The release of this
consultation, CITC proposes to make available over 10 GHz spectrum should set a paradigm shift in the region with regard
of additional radio spectrum by 2024 across a wide range of to spectrum allocation for innovative use and enabling emerging
frequency bands, thus creating a thriving digital environment radio technologies in the Kingdom. “This consultation will
that will meet Saudi Arabia’s technological needs as it moves elicit invaluable feedback from a wide variety of international
forward. The Kingdom currently ranks among the lead G20 stakeholders and help us to formulate an effective spectrum
countries in spectrum allocation for mobile broadband services. outlook to contribute significantly toward making Saudi Arabia
The consultation invites the views of all interested parties on a one of the world’s advanced digital societies.” The public
range of measures, which will transform Saudi Arabia into one of consultation is an important initiative, which comes as part of
the world’s leading digital societies, in line with plans laid out in CITC’s recently approved National Spectrum Strategy (NSS). The
Vision 2030. CITC is inviting feedback on the upcoming spectrum NSS was set up to manage and enhance the efficient usage of
allocation from many sources, including local and international the national spectrum by 2025. The submissions from interested
wireless industry, academia, public and private entities, as parties of the consultation document are open till September 27,
well as end-users of digital services and radio technologies. 2020. (August 23, 2020) saudigazette.com.sa
Dr. Mohammed Al Tamimi, governor of CITC, affirmed: “CITC

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