Page 111 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

A SNAPSHOT OF REGULATORY ACTIVITIES

IN THE SAMENA REGION

Algeria

The Telecoms Minister Brahim Boumzar has stated that 5G the time is right, we will launch 5G.’ He also expressed concerns
development is not an immediate national priority, as the that a switch to 5G – with 4G coverage remaining weak – could
government is instead focused on improving 4G mobile services even accentuate the digital divide in the country and harm the
for the population. Speaking in a radio interview on 14 March, digital transformation ambitions promoted by the government.
Boumzar called the existing quality of 4G service ‘poor’, adding: TeleGeography says that Algeria’s commercial introduction of 4G
‘For the moment, the essential thing is to offer a respectable LTE services took place in October 2016 – less than three years
[service] to our citizens. First, we have to offer good 4G and at the after its launch of 3G – and whilst the combined 4G network
right time we can move on to other generations.’ He also argued footprint of the country’s three cellcos Mobilis, Djezzy and
that cellcos need enough time to get financial returns from their 4G Ooredoo has reached a presence in all 48 provinces, significant
networks, which were launched little over four years ago, saying: improvements are still required, evidenced by regulatory fines
‘the operators should also manage to amortize their investments.’ issued to the trio in 2020 for unsatisfactory 4G coverage.
The minister continued: ‘Our current facilities are 5G-ready. When (March 13, 2021) Agence Ecofin

Bahrain

Bahrain Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has promote effective communication with an aim of promoting
signed a cooperation agreement with the Arab Centre for Dispute a broader understanding of policies relating to the latest
Resolution (ACDR). The agreement aims to organize and manage developments in intellectual property law and the resolution of
disputes relating to the domain names '.BH' and '.Albahrain' disputes over domain names. It is noteworthy that ICANN, a non-
Internationalized Domain Name (IDN). On this occasion, Director profit organization, includes participants from around the world
of Technical and Operations of the Telecommunications seeking to preserve the security, stability and interoperability of
Regulatory Authority of the Kingdom of Bahrain Eng. Mohamed the online community, and has worked towards building domain
Alnoaimi stated “TRA signed this agreement with the Arab Centre name dispute settlement guidelines. (March 13, 2021) bna.bh/en
for Dispute Resolution to settle disputes resulting from the use
of domain names. This will have a positive impact in making the Bahrain’s National Action Charter has contributed tremendously
domain name for the Kingdom of Bahrain trusted and reliable.” to boosting the kingdom’s ICT sector, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed,
Mrs. Majd Khaddash, Director of the Centre, outlined that the Chief Executive of Information & eGovernment (iGA), has said.
agreement provides partnership between the two parties in the Congratulating His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and
field of managing disputes carried out by the authority, specifically the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin
in relation to the domain names ".BH" and “Albahrain", whereby Hamad Al Khalifa on the 20-year anniversary of the National
the Centre shall coordinate with complainants, respondents and Action Charter, Al Qaed said that the anniversary recalls the
registrars to complete the necessary documents for filing cases, achievements of the kingdom made possible thanks to the vision
in addition to the panelists adopted by the Centre. The Centre of HM the King, including accomplishments in the ICT sector
provides services in the areas of domain names attributable to and its unprecedented development over the past few years.
dispute management, and was approved by ICANN on the 18th This is in addition to the supporting decrees and legislations
of May, 2013. She added that ACDR maintains a leading position that contributed to the readiness of the country’s technological
when it comes to implementing the Uniform Domain-Name infrastructure, and enhanced its ability to meet various challenges,
Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), along with its supplemental including the current circumstances. Al Qaed highlighted some of
rules. The Centre aims to provide the adequate and reliable support the kingdom’s most notable digital transformation achievements
to reinforce guidelines, procedures and format for disputes during the pandemic, including providing over 500 round-the-
resolution process, in addition to cases involving inaccurate clock eServices via the National Portal, bahrain.bh, and the
registrations carried out in bad faith. The Centre also seeks to launching of the BeAware Bahrain app, following the vision of

111 FEB-MAR 2021