Page 105 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Malaysia Fleshes Out National 5G Plan

Malaysia’s media and telecoms regulator invest in the “right areas” and reduce the MCMC will be allocated 5G spectrum
explained a national 5G plan unveiled last duplication. It argued this was vital to and offer capacity to mobile operators on
week aims to lower the costs operators enable service providers to continue a wholesale basis. MCMC said operators
face in deploying the technology, freeing deploying fibre, and improve 4G coverage will have “open, fair and equal access” to
them to focus on improving LTE coverage and quality. Its objective is to reduce the new network and there will be private
and invest more in innovative services. infrastructure-based competition and sector involvement. The government
The Malaysian Communications and encourage development of “truly game- targets the launch of 5G services by the
Multimedia Commission (MCMC) stated changing” consumer and business end of the year. It previously postponed
the plan to construct a nationwide 5G services. A special purpose vehicle deployment of the technology to boost the
network would encourage operators to established by the nation and governed by focus on LTE.

FCC Plans Vote on Open RAN Review

Acting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) head Jessica
Rosenworcel proposed an inquiry into open RAN to establish
what the agency’s role should be in promoting the approach. The
proposed review would seek views from the industry on the current
status of global open RAN deployments; the role of emerging and
incumbent vendors, and the FCC in standards setting; challenges
involving testing, integration and deployment; and establishing
a competitive market. Rosenworcel stated a fuller investigation
would allow the FCC to “compile a record about how we can
secure our vulnerable supply chains once and for all, and revitalize government fund open RAN development, and that the FCC could
the nation’s 5G leadership and innovation”. A vote on the proposal establish a testing environment and incentivize operators to use
is set for next month. Rosenworcel previously suggested the the approach to replace equipment deemed not to be trustworthy.

Morocco, Luxembourg Sign Memorandum on Digital Transition

Morocco and Luxembourg have signed a for both countries.” This partnership also In the industry sector, Digital Morocco
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to paves the way for collaboration between 2020 seeks to connect 20% of Moroccan
cooperate on digital transition projects, the GovTech Lab of the Luxembourg small to medium enterprises (SME). By
particularly in the areas of electronic Ministry of Digitalization and the digitizing the economy sector, the ministry
government (e-gov), digital inclusion, Moroccan Digital Development Agency in hopes to attract foreign investment and
and infrastructure. Morocco’s Minister of the field of innovation and modernization to encourage business owners by limiting
Industry, Trade, and Investment, Moulay of digital public services. Morocco’s Digital administrative obstacles. With the newly
Hafid Elalamy, and Luxembourg’s Deputy Development Agency implemented a new signed memorandum, Luxembourg and
Minister of Digitalization, Marc Hansen strategy to further develop the country’s Morocco appear determined to work
signed the agreement Monday during a e-governance as well as e-commerce. toward furthering their evolving economic
videoconference. Within the framework Digital Morocco 2020, “fosters the digital cooperation. In 2020, Luxembourg’s
of this partnership, Luxembourg ambitions of the kingdom,” explained government opened a Trade and
and Morocco intend to share their Moulay Hafid Elalamy. This initiative aims Investment Office (LTIO) in Casablanca.
experience and expertise in the field of to accelerate Morocco’s digital transition The office, the very first in Africa, will help
digitalization. Hansen expressed a joint and to position the country as “the identify opportunities in Morocco and
ambition to collaborate in the fields leading African digital hub.” The strategy’s more widely in Africa for Luxembourg
of data interoperability, training for objective is to put 50% of administrative companies from different sectors. It will
digital inclusion, and developing digital procedures online while reducing the also support Moroccan investors and
infrastructures. The minister specified that digital divide by 50%. According to Elalamy, companies to access Luxembourg as a
the agreement “marks the beginning of a the digitalization of administrative services European gateway.
mutual collaboration that will contribute will achieve better productivity and reduce
to a mutually beneficial digital transition the costs for administrative services.

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