Page 121 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

the launch of a quarterly award for the internet service provider connection and speed. Saudi Arabia’s current gaming market size
with the best response time for video gaming, a key indicator of the is SR2.6 billion and is expected to reach SR9.5 billion by 2030. The
network’s performance. In addition, the commission will start the Saudi gaming market’s annual growth rate is 22 percent, which is
publication of quarterly reports comparing response times among among the highest in the world. (March 6, 2021) digitalstudiome.com
service providers across some of the most popular video games in
the Kingdom. Data from CITC’s first Game Mode quarterly report Saudi Arabia showcased its model to strengthen the security and
reveals that Mobily topped the list of average response time in the resilience of critical infrastructure against cyber-attacks and other
popular game "Fortnite" in the fourth quarter of 2020, based on an hazards during a meeting of the International Telecommunication
average response time of 21 seconds. This compared favorably Union (ITU) Council Working Group on international public
with Integrated Telecom at 28 seconds, Zain at 29 seconds, and policy issues related to the Internet. During the meeting, which
Saudi Telecom Company (STC) at 35 seconds, for a total national was attended by ITU secretary-general Houlin Zhao, his deputy
average of 33 seconds. Soccer video game "FIFA" was also tested Malcolm Johnson and a number of representatives of the ITU
by Game Mode, with Zain ending in first place among operators member states, the Kingdom shared with the member states the
with an average response time of 29 seconds. Mobily also Saudi model for strengthening the resilience of cybersecurity
outperformed other service providers in the average response time during the year of its presidency of the G20 and the virtual G20
for the "Apex Legends" shooter battle royal game, after recording Leaders' Summit. During its G20 presidency, the Kingdom,
an average response time of 24 seconds, followed by Integrated represented by the National Cybersecurity Authority, was keen to
Telecom, Zain, and STC. As for the online battle arena game develop the model, as a comprehensive reference for the countries
"League of Legends", the performance was relatively low across that will chair the G20 in the future and all major conference
the spectrum of operators, with Mobily and Zain topping the list organizers. Participants in the meeting praised the Saudi model
with an average response time of 86 seconds, followed by STC for strengthening cybersecurity resilience, and its contribution to
at 95 seconds, and Integrated Telecom at 97 seconds. For fixed holding this important event safely and reliably.
internet average latency in Saudi Arabia, Integrated Telecom was (February 8, 2021) saudigazette.com.sa
first place with a latency of 9ms. Mobily and Zain were second and
third with latencies of 13ms and 18ms respectively. STC’s fixed The Communications & Information Technology Commission
internet average latency was 19ms and Go was 34ms. Zain was (CITC) announced that Integrated Telecom Company (ITC) and
first place for mobile internet average latency with 33ms, closely another telecom operator won the tender for providing the mobile
followed by Mobily and STC with 34ms and 36ms respectively. virtual network operator (MVNO) services. The two companies
Zain also led the field with mobile 5G average latency with 22ms were given a grace period of 90 days from the day of notifying
with STC in second place with 24ms and Mobily in third with 25ms. them about the award to complete all regulatory requirements.
The report also looked at the service providers' performance in However, failure to fulfill such requirements by any of the two firms
each of Saudi Arabia’s 13 regions. Zain was the top performer during the prescribed period will lead to awarding the tender to the
in Riyadh, Mobily first place in Makkah, and the two providers third winner as an alternative, CITC added. The telecom regulator
were tied first place in the Eastern region. The "Game Mode" also noted that the completion of requirements by the two firms
reports provide other useful insights on the Saudi gaming market, to obtain the licenses within 90 days will bring the total number of
including a list of the most popular video game platforms, the awarded MVNO licenses in the Kingdom to four licenses. In 2014,
most talked-about games in the gamers’ community, along with CITC awarded the MVNO licenses to Virgin Mobile KSA and Etihad
guidelines for gamers to improve the overall quality of the internet Jawraa. (February 6, 2021) argaam.com

Sri Lanka

Following the conclusion of its recent public consultation on that number portability will lead to a significant improvement in
the matter, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of the quality of services of voice and broadband once implemented,
Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has announced that fixed number portability as it ‘empowers the consumer to have the final say’. As previously
(FNP) and mobile number portability (MNP), enabling customers reported by CommsUpdate, in January this year the regulator
to switch provider while retaining their existing number, will likely published a public consultation to seek feedback on its proposed
be introduced from October 2021. According to the local Daily MNP/FNP plans, inviting comments and views from the industry,
Mirror newspaper, TRCSL Director General Oshada Senanayake academia, and other interested parties. Prior to that, in August
has announced that the policy would be implemented ‘in 2020 TRCSL had put in place ‘preliminary measures’ to usher in
consultation with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, due MNP. Using its Twitter platform, the regulator confirmed: ‘TRC
to its success in implementing number portability in Pakistan’. initiates preliminary steps on implementing number portability
It is understood FNP/MNP has reached the technical discussion which would enable consumers to select service providers
stage after receiving the support of all domestic operators for its without change of existing mobile numbers’.
launch, in principle. Senanayke highlighted the government’s hope (March 19, 2921) commsupdate.com

121 FEB-MAR 2021