Page 64 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Tax Burden for Pakistan’s Telecoms Sector to be Reduced

Pakistan's media has recently reported on be abolished altogether. There will be a ensuring the launch of 32 different projects
government plans for significant tax cuts reduction in tax on telecom services for worth about Rs22 billion (about $140.1
for telecommunications companies and all telecom companies with a Pakistan million) during the first 31 months of the
services. With a budget on the way in which Telecommunication Authority (PTA) current government. These and other
these measures will be formalized, this will license. In addition, customs duty and achievements were emphasized by the
be welcome news to the IT industry, which regulatory duty on the import of telecom minister at a recent press conference, but
these tax breaks are meant to boost. The equipment, as well as on raw material it’s likely that the less onerous tax structure
federal cabinet has apparently approved for the optic fiber cable manufacturing will be the initiative most enthusiastically
the grant of industry status to the telecom industry, will all fall. Highlighting welcomed by the communications sector
sector and a gradual reduction in heavy these plans, federal minister for IT and – and many end users. After all, as the
taxes on both the industry and on mobile Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haq GSMA points out, sector-specific taxes,
phone users. Tax on mobile phone users is also mentioned the ministry’s other fees and other levies have a significant
to be slashed, as is federal excise duty on achievements like its Right of Way policy impact on affordability.
telecom services. The fee of Rs250 (about and the Universal Service Fund (USF)
$1.59) on the issuance of a new SIM is to that he noted had played a major role in

Telecom Companies to Provide Free Internet in Jordan

The Ministry of Higher Education on Petra reported. According to a ministry mainly easing university students’ access
Saturday expressed appreciation for the statement, Higher Education Minister to universities’ educational platforms.
Kingdom's three telecom companies, Mohammad Abu Qdais, highlighted the The three companies, Zain, Orange and
Zain, Orange and Umniah, for providing importance of the three companies’ efforts Umniah, announced that they will continue
university students with free Internet towards supporting the government’s providing free Internet bundles for
bundles, the Jordan News Agency, measures in response to the pandemic, university students until next June.

Zain Launches 4G in South Sudan

The South Sudanese unit of Zain Group its 4G internet service in Juba on Friday 5 only competitor MTN South Sudan, which
has launched a commercial 4G network March 2021,’ the Ministry of ICT and Postal is based in South Africa. TeleGeography’s
in the capital Juba. ‘In collaboration with Services announced on its social media GlobalComms Database states that Zain
the National Communication Authority page. Kuwaiti-owned Zain is South Sudan’s had 1.05 million customers at the end of
(NCA), Zain South Sudan has launched second largest mobile operator behind its 2020, compared to MTN’s 1.70 million.

64 FEB-MAR 2021