Page 78 - SAMENA Trends - December 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

connections fell 5 per cent to 5.24 million at the end of November the ‘Made in Oman’ campaign and is aimed at promoting local
2020. Also, the number of subscribers of resellers rose by 11.9 per products which contributes to supporting the national economy.
cent to 1.05 million at the end of November 2020 compared to the She added that the ministry targets to place the Sultanate on the
same period of 2019. (December 22, 2020) timesofoman.com electronic platform map from local to global digital platforms. In
this initiative markeetex has introduced a special section for the
Asila bint Salim al Samsamiyah, Under-Secretary for Investment Omani products to help entrepreneurs to display their products
Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment and enable consumers to identify local products especially during
Promotion recently launched the digital platform markeetex, in the COVID-19 pandemic, she said. It is noteworthy that the ‘Made
coincidence with the 50th National Day. Markeetex is the first in Oman’ campaign is organized by the Ministry of Commerce,
integrated digital marketing platform specializing in the provision Industry and Investment Promotion in collaboration with Oman
of electronic commerce and logistics. The platform displays a Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), Public Establishment
wide range of products as well as after-sale and delivery services for Industrial Estates (Madayn), Small and Medium Enterprises
inside and outside the Sultanate. Asila bint Salim al Samsamiyah, Development Authority, the Consumer Protection Authority. The
Under-Secretary for Investment Promotion of the Ministry of campaign is aimed at promoting Omani products and encouraging
Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, said that the local and international consumers to buy Oman products.
launch of the electronic platform markeetex comes as part of (December 1, 2020) omanobserver.om

Pakistan

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has published year. Sources said the process of 5G services has not yet kick-
independent cellular Quality of Service (QoS) Survey results started and it might take a couple of years because it requires a
of 4th Quarter (Q4) of 2020 on PTA website (www.pta.gov.pk/ lot of spade work to transform the whole infrastructure of cellular
en/consumer-support/qos-survey). In order to measure the mobile companies. The spectrum of 1800 MHz is used for 4G
performance and service quality of 2G (GSM), 3G (UMTS / HSPA+) services so this remaining spectrum will be used for improving
and 4G (LTE), of Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs), independent 4G services in Pakistan. All existing telecom players that will
Quality of Service (QoS) survey was performed using newly make efforts to win this upcoming spectrum auction are going
procured automated QoS monitoring and benchmarking tool to bring desired improvement in quality of 3G/4G services in the
“Smart-Benchmarker” from 23rd November to 11th December country. The improvement of 4G services is required immensely
2020 in Kabirwala, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta for providing data services in the country. The advertisement for
and Peshawar. After detailed analysis of the survey results, voice hiring of consultant/consultancy firm was published in national
and SMS services of CMOs were found below the minimum and international newspapers on September 30 and also published
required licensed standards whereas, data services of all CMOs on PTA and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA)
were found satisfactory and up to the mark. Based on the websites. In response to the advertisement, PTA received 12 bids
survey results, CMOs have been directed to rectify the identified from consultants/consultancy firms till the deadline – November
anomalies and take corrective measures for improvement of 17. The mobile data traffic in Pakistan increased over 400 percent
voice, SMS and data services up to the licensed standards, within to 1.75 gigabytes per user per month in 2018 from 0.34Gb/user/
30 days. (December 30, 2020) pta.gov.pk month in 2016. 5G tests and trials have already been started in
Pakistan and the government identified 2600, 3500 MHz and
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said it selected an millimeter wave bands for the trial purpose, according to the PTA.
international consultant to auction the remaining spectrum of 3G Mobile services continued to lead the sector by providing reliable
and 4G services in the country that is estimated to raise Rs27 and affordable connectivity. Mobile sector showed a steady
billion. PTA completed the evaluation process for the selection growth in subscribers on its networks and increased subscriber
of the international consultant for spectrum auction of 1800 MHz base to 163.5 million at the end of FY 2019, showing a year-on-
and 2100 MHz bands as per directions of ministry of information year growth of 7 percent. (December 28, 2020) thenews.com.pk
technology and telecommunication. After detailed evaluation of
financial bids, in the presence of five technically qualified bidders The Universal Service Fund (USF) has decided to award contracts
– three were physically present while two joined the meeting worth approximately Rs8.81 billion to provide high-speed mobile
via video link – Frontier Economics Limited has been declared broadband services to more than six million people in un-
successful. PTA evaluated the proposals and finalized the served and under-served areas of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan
consultant in accordance with PPRA rules. After the completion and tribal areas (erstwhile Fata) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The
of further formalities, the successful consultant is expected to contracts were won by Telenor, Ufone and Jazz and optic fiber
formally sign a contract. The budget documents for 2020/21 cable contracts were awarded to Pakistan Telecommunication
showed that the government envisaged to raise Rs27 billion Company Limited (PTCL). In its recent meeting, the USF board,
through auctioning of 3G/4G spectrum during the current fiscal chaired by IT Secretary Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, stressed the

78 DECEMBER 2020