Page 99 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

A SNAPSHOT OF REGULATORY ACTIVITIES

IN THE SAMENA REGION

Afghanistan

National Radio and TV senior officials asked for implementing of this law will lead to attracting investment from international
six digital infrastructure projects for expanding e-government, companies." According to him, if financial, economic and banking
funded by TDF. “National Radio and TV is ready to provide transactions are electronic, it will greatly help in the work of
space for development and storage of digital contents and e-commerce and the growth of the digital economy. He called
for implementing digital projects in the compound of national the approval of the Electronic Transactions and Signatures Law
Radio and TV”, stated Mr. Ismail Maikhel, National Radio and TV the result of joint work of the Ministry of Information Technology,
Director, in the meeting attended by Mr. Omar Mansoor Ansari, Communications and Science, the Ministry of Justice, the
ATRA senior officials and the authority high council. Mr. Ansari ATRA Administration, the National Statistics and Information
also stressed in his speeches that high quality, high speed and Office, and added: "It is expected that other public and private
cheap internet is required for developing digital content and this institutions will be able to take advantage of this law effectively
objective is possible once both sides cooperate each other. “ATRA as well. Mr. Hashimi termed the replacement of electronic mail
would soon begin evaluating proposals for National Radio and TV instead of paper mail a big step, he expressed that the Electronic
and discussions would continue for cooperation between the two mailing and transactions were taking place in the past; but had
sides”, added Mr. Ansari. not legal aspect that with the adoption of this law, transactions,
(August 11, 2020) atra.gov.af correspondences and electronic signatures will gain legal validity,
and with its implementation, the way of conducting transactions
The draft law on electronic transactions and signatures, which and communications will be streamlined and easier.
was recently approved by the Cabinet of the Islamic Republic (August 26, 2020) mcit.gov.af
of Afghanistan, was shared with the public and media during a
press conference on Wednesday, August 26, 2020. This Act has ATRA senior officials had a pursuing meeting with telecom
been prepared in six chapters and thirty articles, and with its companies for improving quality of telecom and internet services.
implementation, many changes and facilities will be provided “Telecom and internet services quality is very low in the country
in the field of electronic transactions, communications and even in major cities and people are not satisfied”, added the senior
correspondence. Mohammad Fahim Hashimi, Acting Minister of officials. Mr. Omar Mansoor Ansari, ATRA Acting-Chairman,
Information Technology, Communications and Science, during instructed the telecom companies to take crucial actions for
the press conference, called the approval of this law a big step improving quality of service, find reasonable solutions for citizen’s
towards digitalization of government, economy and society, problems and make people satisfied. Such meetings aim to make
which he said is the basis for the growth of digital economy, telecom and internet services better in the country and as well
digital governance and Information society. Minister Hashimi said seek out solutions for existing problems in the sector.
the law is in line with international standards, and the passage (August 6, 2020) atra.gov.af

Algeria

Algeria’s three mobile network operators Algerie Telecom Mobile for Regulation of Post & Electronic Communications (ARPCE),
(Mobilis), Djezzy and Ooredoo will be issued additional frequencies although details on the type(s) of frequencies under consideration
to combat the problem of substandard internet access following were not immediately reported. The meeting followed an order
widespread network disruptions experienced over the last week, it from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on 23 August demanding
was decided at a meeting between the Telecoms Minister Brahim a ‘definitive solution to the problem of low internet speed’, after
Boumzar and senior telecoms company executives on 25 August Algerians experienced degraded internet connectivity from 19
2020. Minister Boumzar said that the release of new telecoms August onwards, although indications were that the immediate
spectrum would be implemented in coordination with the Authority problems were caused by international connectivity issues rather

99 AUGUST 2020