Page 79 - SAMENA Trends - December 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

need for giving special attention to the tribal districts of Khyber Ahmad Siddiqui, said that the main objective of these projects
Pakhtunkhwa that were earlier considered troubled and dangerous is to provide facilities to those living in the remote areas with
due to presence of terrorists and criminal elements there. After either no access to internet or struggling with poor connectivity.
establishment of peace in these districts, the USF board approved He also said that the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication
award of contracts under the optic fiber cable program to PTCL is working expeditiously to accomplish the vision of Digital
for Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Frontier Region Pakistan. Moreover, he said, after establishment of peace in
Peshawar and Frontier Region Kohat. The optic fiber cable projects the most backward areas like Gwadar, Chagai, Kech and other
are valued at approximately Rs4.65bn that aim to lay 1,466km dangerous tribal areas, the substantial amount of subsidy for
of optical fiber cable to provide high-speed mobile broadband optic fiber cable contracts is a proof that the Ministry of IT and
services to an un-served population of approximately 5.01 million Telecommunication is leaving no stone unturned to provide
people. Projects to lay optic fiber cable has also been approved information and communication technologies (ICTs) to every
for Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad and Khairpur citizen of Pakistan. Referring to the board meeting on Oct 19, he
districts in Sindh. The board approved award of contracts under said that the board had approved projects worth over Rs5.11bn
the Next Generation Broadband for Sustainable Development for the provision of mobile phone connectivity and broadband
program worth around Rs4.7bn to Telenor, Ufone and Jazz that services to the remote and backward areas of Sindh, Balochistan
will benefit an un-served population of approximately 0.98 million and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Thus, he added, in the first half of
and an approximate un-served area of 86,773sq-km. Telenor is the current financial year, the USF board has approved a record
being awarded the contract for Chagai and Nushki districts in number of projects worth over Rs13.92bn to transform the lives
Balochistan that will serve an un-served population of around of over 10 million people and this is a testament to the excellent
0.16m in 170 un-served muazas and an approximate un-served performance of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication and the
area of 47,872sq-km. Ufone is being awarded the contract for Universal Service Fund. (December 21, 2020) dawn.com
Gwadar, Kech and Panjgur districts in Balochistan that will
benefit an un-served population of approximately 0.48m in 377 Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has completed
un-served muazas and approximately 34,899sq-km of un-served evaluation process for the selection of an international
area. Similarly, Jazz is being awarded the contract for Jhelum consultant for spectrum auction of 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz
and Chakwal districts in Punjab that will benefit an un-served bands as per directions of Ministry of Information Technology
population of approximately 0.34m in 263 un-served muazas & Telecommunication (MoIT&T). The advertisement for hiring
and an approximate un-served area of 4,002sq-km. Meanwhile, of consultant/consultancy firm was published in national
federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haque and international newspapers on September 30th, 2020 and
in his message congratulated the chairman of the USF board, the also published on PTA and PPRA websites. In response to
CEO and other board members on presenting record broadband the advertisement, PTA received 12 bids from consultants/
projects. He said that the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication consultancy firms till the deadline i.e., November 17th, 2020.
and its subsidiary departments had a significant responsibility After detailed evaluation of financial bids, in the presence of five
to enhance connectivity to the population amid social distancing technically qualified bidders (three were physically present while
due to Covid-19 and an environment of online learning and two joined the meeting via video link), Frontier Economics Limited
digital businesses. During the meeting, special focus was given has been declared successful. PTA evaluated the proposals and
to far-flung areas of Balochistan and the tribal areas of Khyber finalized the consultant in accordance with PPRA rules. After the
Pakhtunkhwa. Addressing the meeting, the federal Secretary of completion of further formalities, the successful consultant is
IT and Telecommunication and Chairman of USF Board, Shoaib expected to formally sign a contract. (December 17, 2020) telecoalert.com

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission educational, and training programs in the latest technologies,
(CITC) signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with including artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
global telecommunication firms - Ericsson, Nokia and Huawei, (December 21, 2020) argaam.com
the authority said in a statement. The three global firms will
provide support and strengthen CITC's objectives of enabling Houlin Zhao, Secretary General of the International
the Kingdom's digital transformation drive and nationalization Telecommunication Union (ITU), hailed Saudi Arabia’s efforts and
of technologies in accordance with leading global practices its remarkable initiatives in various fields, including the launch
in information and communication technology. The MoUs of a new platform to enhance international cooperation in the
also include synergy in dealing with global organizations of digital fields. He described the Kingdom’s telecommunications
telecommunications standards, as well as holding training market as the largest in the Middle East region. Zhao made the
courses for CITC's employees, the statement added. Furthermore, remarks while addressing the three-day webinar titled “Radio
the entities will participate in global workshops, and organize Spectrum for IMT-2020 and beyond: Fostering Commercial and

79 DECEMBER 2020