Page 118 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

innovation in the telecommunications market” in the Sultanate. time-to-market at potentially lower cost. Additionally, it aids in
Besides enabling interested parties to test their products and identifying appropriate consumer protection safeguards to build
services in a controlled manner, the framework also reduces into new products and services, it said. (February 16, 2021) omanobserver.om

Pakistan

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has conducted an open-source, full-fledged DRIBS. This system has the ability to
independent Quality of Service (QoS) survey of GT Road (Lahore identify all IMEIs latched on Pakistan’s mobile networks and to
to Peshawar) and Indus Highway (Peshawar to Karachi) from categorize them based on their compliant status.
22nd to 24th February, 2021, to measure the performance of (March 7, 2021) profit.pakistantoday.com.pk
Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) in terms of mobile coverage,
service availability and its quality. The survey results reveal that Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication
good 3G coverage is available throughout GT Road, whereas Indus has approved seven projects worth Rs. 4800 million. These
Highway has adequate 3G coverage with patchy 4G coverage. reviewed and modified projects were approved for different
Overall, satisfactory voice, SMS and data services are available on departments in Departmental Development Working Party
both the highways. However, few anomalies have been observed (DDWP) meeting chaired by Federal Secretary Ministry of IT and
in voice and SMS QoS parameters of all CMOs throughout GT Road Telecommunication Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui. These approved
(from Lahore to Peshawar) and Indus Highway (from Peshawar projects will not only pave way for fulfilling the Prime Minister’s
to Karachi). CMOs have met the 3G and 4G signal strength Digital Pakistan vision but also ensure training of over 22,000
and User Data Throughput on entire GT Road, while, on Indus youths and create more than 5000 job opportunities besides
Highway, 3G signal strength of CMOs was found in compliance provision of broadband services on Karakoram Highway and
with license standard, whereas, 4G signal strength was below the establishing of IT institutions. The meeting was told under one
license standard. CMOs have been directed to rectify the issues of the projects Special Communications Organization (SCO), the
highlighted by PTA, optimize mobile network so as to improve Key attached department of Ministry of IT, will spend Rs. 1580 million
Performance Indicators up-to the license standards and also plan for provision of internet services and mobile connectivity in Diamer
additional resources/sites throughout the above stated routes. A Bhasha dam site and its surrounding areas. The meeting also
confirmatory survey will be conducted upon receipt of compliance approved project worth Rs. 298 million under which a Technical
from the licensees. (March 18, 2021) telecoalert.com Training Center will be established in Gilgit. The meeting gave
approval for a project of worth Rs. 651 million for setting up a
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has said it has National Testing Center for 5G Testing under National Information
issued Mobile Device Manufacturing (MDM) regulations and has Technology Board (NITB), while Rs. 1944 million was approved
started receiving applications for mobile device manufacturing. In for cyber security project. The meeting approved Rs 143 million
a statement, PTA said that the implementation of the authority’s for formulation of a Program under Virtual University for bringing
Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DRIBS) Pakistani degrees to equal level of the degrees of the countries
in 2019 had resulted in significant increase in legal import of signatory of Seoul accord. The meeting gave approval of Rs. 367
mobile devices and establishment of over 33 local assembly million for National Freelance Training Program. The chair gave
plants of mobile devices in Pakistan. These plants have produced direction for timely completion of all projects and in transparent
over 25 million mobile devices including 4G smartphones since manner. The meeting was attended by officers of Ministry of IT
the implementation of the system. The PTA said that with the & Telecom, Ministry of Planning, Development, Finance Division,
successful execution of DRIBS, the local assembly industry had and others. (March 6, 2021) telecoalert.com
evolved from infancy to growing stage, with significant growth
seen in local assembly of smartphones. In 2019, only 119,639 Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has directed Cellular
smartphones were assembled locally whereas in 2020, the number Mobile Operators (CMOs) to improve network coverage and
of such devices grew to 2.1 million. It is important to highlight performance, and maintain Quality of Service (QoS) as per license
that the end of the second month of 2021, around 1.21 million standards. In view of public complaints regarding degradation
smartphones had been assembled in Pakistan. In the light of the in service quality and results of PTA surveys, it was observed
tremendous impact of DRIBS, the government has introduced a that lack of network expansion and insufficient network/sites
comprehensive Mobile Manufacturing Policy to encourage and are some of the causes of QoS issues. CMOs have been asked
attract manufacturers to Pakistan and establish their plants. The to take concrete measures for resolution of root causes, ensure
PTA has issued MDM regulations and has started receiving mobile network stability and adequate coverage through expansion of
device manufacturing applications. This initiative will help create their networks, especially in densely populated urban areas. PTA
more jobs in this technical sector, as well as enable consumers will review the steps taken by CMOs from time to time to check
to buy locally manufactured mobile devices. The PTA said that that improved voice and data services are being extended to the
the country had the distinction of implementing the world’s first subscribers. Better coverage and service quality will ensure that

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