Page 41 - SAMENA Trends - December 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Saudi Arabia Showcasing Global Leadership in 5G Experience Delivery

Over the past two years, Saudi Arabia has This too is only behind Thailand’s 14.7 the telcos pay to the government was
been at the forefront of the regional 5G times improvement. Thus, from whichever reduced from 15% to 10%. The fee
landscape and has displayed leadership angle it is evaluated, the Saudi 5G layout reduction simulated the telcos to invests
— both in number of 5G subscribers as has established a formidable legacy in expanding their infrastructure and make
well as 5G coverage of the population. The and stamped its authority on the global it ‘5G ready’ suitably meet the growing
Saudi 5G users have been experiencing footprint. It has taken a lot of planning demands for broadcast in the Kingdom.
a great 5G experiences (in terms of both and efforts from the telco stakeholders Proactive Experience Tracking & Reporting
high bandwidth and low latency) and the in Saudi Arabia to be able to foster such The CITC has inaugurated the ‘Meqyas’ is
telcos are accordingly raking in much a dominant 5G position on the global an initiative to proactively study, track and
higher ARPUs over 5G as compared to map. Right from a supportive regulatory report on the various telecom parameters
4G. These results are now visible even framework, to committed and proactive (such as total download bandwidth,
at the international level where KSA’s 5G operators — all participants have played gaming latency, network coverage etc.)
investments are resulting in dominant a part in this success. A few key reasons from across the Kingdom. These reports,
positions in global rankings. In the just that have propelled Saudi 5G to its current published quarterly, analyze Saudi Arabia's
released report by OpenSignal (December position are analyzed here: fixed and mobile broadband performance
2020), KSA has stood on the second rank Generous Spectrum Allocations and and thus motivate the telcos to perform
globally — and first within the Arab world Release better — thus improving the overall service
— (amongst the 15 leading 5G markets The Saudi operators were amongst the first quality across the Kingdom.
surveyed) on a host of parameters. As wave globally to receive their 5G spectrums. Competitive and Consumer Benefit Tariffs
these above finding show, users in Saudi Following an auction in March 2019, the – Simulating Healthily Competition
Arabia are receiving the second highest regulator, Communication and Information The KSA has a very healthy and competitive
real world 5G download speed (at 272.8 Technology Commission (CITC) allocated tariff regime where the consumers are the
Mpbs) — behind only South Korea (which equal amounts 100 MHz spectrum in the ultimate winners. The telcos have been
is enjoying 351.2 Mbps). This has ensured C-band range (between 3.4GHz – 3.8GHz) offering new innovative tariff structures to
that the Saudi users experience the second to all the three operators. This band is best the consumer – moving away from offering
highest bandwidth improvement — that suited for 5G development. only ‘connectivity’ to offering ‘experiences’
by a factor of 9.1 times — which using Supportive Regulatory Regime – loaded with video and gaming bundles.
their 5G services as compared to 4G. In December 2018, the royalty fee that Further, the telcos are also launching 5G
plans with multiple contract durations
which is allowing users from all segments
to enjoy the services — by easing the
pressure on long commitments. All these
above factors have ensured that the Saudi
5G roll-out can be considered successful
and offers insights to be replicated
elsewhere. The key drivers — as learnt
from the Saudi analysis — for an effective
5G deployment is to develop sophisticated
and richer consumer offers, backed up by
high-performance networks and rapid,
accurate service provisioning.

Saudi Arabia Looking to Adopt Egypt's E-Invoicing Model

Saudi Arabia is looking to adopt the electronic invoicing model facilitating procedures for taxpayers, and combating tax evasion.
implemented by Egypt which managed to be the first country Egypt is keen to share its experiences and provide technical
in the MENA region to require taxpayers to issue electronic tax support to help Saudi Arabia implement the e-invoicing system,
invoices. The Governor of the General Authority of Zakat and Tax he noted. On 15 November, the Egyptian Tax Authority required
(GAZT), Suhail bin Mohammed Abanmi, commended the efforts 134 companies of the top corporate taxpayers to issue electronic
exerted by Egypt in this regard during a virtual meeting with the tax invoices. The second phase of making e-invoices obligatory,
Egyptian Minister of Finance, Mohamed Maait, according to a which will begin on 15 February 2021, will include 350 companies,
statement on Sunday. Maait said that the e-invoicing system while the third phase, which will start on 15 May 2021, will include
is a key step towards automating the tax declarations system, the remaining top corporate taxpayers.

41 DECEMBER 2020