Page 91 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Egypt

The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Egypt of imposing a fine was made based on a report drafted by the
(NTRA) imposed a fine of EGP 20 million on Telecom Egypt committee. Furthermore, the technical committee will carry on
upon monitoring a breakdown in telecom infrastructure and work with internet service providers to have a clear image about
disconnection of voice and internet services across different how impactful such a breakdown was on services, and take
areas on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. Operators were also directed whatever actions necessary to protect users’ rights. It’s worth
by NTRA to provide compensations for affected customers, in noting that NTRA affirmed it’s important that all measures must
accordance with the public compensation rules issued by NTRA be taken to ensure services are seamlessly provided and avoid any
to operators, to ensure that users’ rights are protected in case network breakdowns that put users at the risk of being harmed. As
of service-breakdowns. NTRA had urgently formed a technical pointed out by NTRA, measures should be also taken to meet the
committee once the breakdown occurred, to determine its causes, users’ needs, protect their rights and raise their level of satisfaction
range of impact, time duration, as well as the areas affected, until with the services utilized.
service was properly restored to all areas. Meanwhile, the decision (December 8, 2023) www.tra.gov.eg

Jordan

Chief Commissioner of the Telecommunications Regulatory to intensify market competition and address prevailing regulatory
Commission Bassam Al-Sarhan has said that the three main challenges, ultimately facilitating superior service offerings
telecom operators in the Kingdom had been referred to the Public to end-users. In light of the initial tariff increments initiated by
Prosecutor, an action initiated by the Minister of Industry, Trade, these companies, the Commission, adhering to its regulatory
and Supply. Al-Sarhan indicated that the action follows allegations mandate, had formally requested a reversal of these price hikes.
of anticompetitive behavior, specifically a purported implicit Despite the Commission's efforts focused on safeguarding
collusion to elevate prepaid cellular service plan rates, coupled with consumer interests and ensuring market stability, compliance
the introduction of additional fees for cash top-up services at their from the telecom operators was not forthcoming. This prompted
respective retail outlets. This referral action is a response to the a collaborative investigation with the Ministry of Industry and
operators' non-compliance with previous directives to amend these Trade into potential antitrust violations. After a comprehensive
practices, constituting a potential breach of antitrust regulations as review, the decision to proceed with a formal referral to the Public
stipulated in the Competition Law. Reinforcing the Commission's Prosecutor was finalized. Al-Sarhan reiterated the Commission’s
commitment to consumer protection and competitive fairness in unwavering dedication to enhancing competitive dynamics among
the telecom sector, Al-Sarhan underlined the imperative of ensuring telecom providers, advocating for a market environment that
access to high-quality telecommunications services at equitable upholds service excellence and price reasonability. He affirmed
prices. He further indicated the Commission's strategy to introduce the Commission's readiness to engage in open dialogue with
regulatory reforms, including proposed amendments to the all relevant entities, striving to establish a robust, competitive
existing telecommunications law. These amendments, intended landscape that propels the telecommunications sector forward.
for legislative review in the upcoming Parliamentary session, aim (December 25, 2023) www.petra.gov.jo

Kuwait

The Public-Private Partnership Projects Authority, in collaboration development project. This initiative aligns with the provisions
with the Ministry of Transportation, has invited specialized outlined in Law No. 116 of 2014, which pertains to partnerships
companies and alliances, both local and international (excluding between the public and private sectors, and its accompanying
entities licensed by the Communications and Information executive regulations. The fixed telecommunications network
Technology Regulatory Authority or its affiliates), to submit development project seeks to establish a collaborative venture
qualification applications for the fixed telecommunications network between the public and private sectors with the overarching

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