Page 46 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Jordan, Iraq Discuss Cooperation in Telecom,

Technology Sector

Minister of Digital Economy and experience in applying distance learning
Entrepreneurship, Muthanna Gharaibeh, concepts through the "Darsak" platform,
discussed with the Iraqi Minister of which Jordan's telecom regulator has
Communications, Arkan Shaibani, joint helped develop. The meetings focused
cooperation in the telecom and information on discussing expanding the transfer of
technology fields. The discussions also Internet capacity from Jordan to Iraq, as
went over means to benefit from Jordan's the Iraqi market is heading to install the
experience in implementing "distance fourth-generation services during the next
learning" during the Covid-19 pandemic. year, which needs to equip its infrastructure
According to a press release released and expand Internet capacities, expecting
by the ministry, the two ministers held a Iraq's internet growth to double 20-30
series of virtual meetings, which focused times, according to Gharaibeh. Gharaibeh
on frameworks of cooperation in the indicated the main telecom companies
field of communications and Jordan's operating in the Kingdom have expressed
experience in the distance learning area, their willingness and ability to transfer
data technologies, and cyber security and more Internet capacity to Iraq, while Iraq
protection. During the talks, Gharaibeh said affirmed its interest to get these capacities
meetings are " important" as they dealt from Jordanian companies, as they are
with the frameworks of joint cooperation characterized by high quality and security
in the telecom services sector, and extent services.
to which Iraq has benefited from Jordan's

17 Million People to Get Benefit From CPOFP

China-Pakistan Fiber Optic Project traffic. The project included laying of microwave transmission equipment in
(CPFOP), the major project of digital 850 km of underground and Ariel optical a record time of two years against the
connectivity between China and Pakistan, fiber cable from Rawalpindi to khunjerab projected timeline of 3 years. Besides
has started and for the first time fiber optic ultimately linking with China. The system this strategic significance, the project has
cable has become operational between the is supported by high capacity microwave broad socio economic dimensions as well,
two countries. This project is considered to links as backup, thus the stage was set with its key role in support of other schemes
be the backbone of digital connectivity and to execute one of the most challenging being implemented under the ambit of
is important for the information technology and unique telecommunications and CPEC, the optical fiber cabling has great
exchange between China and Pakistan. The information technologies projects in the importance for international transit traffic.
digital connectivity technology of China highest mountain ranges of the world. Due to low latency, the project with such
can now be transferred to Pakistan through Extreme weather conditions, frequent broad socio economic and technological
fiber optics, China Economic Net (CEN) landslides, limited deployment corridors dimensions is excepted to be a game
reported. Transformation of industrial with glaciated mountains, continuous water changer by transforming trade corridor
revolution in the age of information and channels and negotiating large number into digital corridor. The Pak-China fiber
artificial intelligence has converged the of bridges and tunnels were some of the optic cable is to be laid along three main
whole world at the finger tips. In a rapidly major problems. The work was executed routes of CPEC, including railway tracks.
changing arena, Pakistan has to keep pace in most professional manner with multiple The project is aimed at enabling another
with this ongoing revolution to reap the tiers of supervision and management and high-speed international connection and
benefits by ensuring ample and seamless execution levels. To address the problems caters to the rapidly growing Internet
global connectivity. In order to improve of limited deployment corridors, specialized traffic needs of both countries. The
the international connectivity, special machinery was imported to avoid damage project will help improve the telecom
communication organization conceived for recently constructed roads. The work on and ICT industry of Pakistan, promote
an optical fiber cable link with china to optical fiber cable deployment through the tourism and create trading opportunities
provide an alternate route for national planned route has been completed along for northern areas of the country. It will
communication as well as international with the installation of high-end capacity also provide the ICT infrastructure for

46 AUGUST 2020