Page 80 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

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Tunisia Launches the Internet Universality Indicators Assessment

Recently, the Internet Universality the role of the newly created MAB, in Tunisia, which was the main objective
Indicators (IUIs) assessment was officially responsible for overseeing the research of this first meeting. In their presentation
launched in Tunisia, breaking ground by process through a truly inclusive and on the progress of IUIs in Tunisia, they also
making Tunisia the first country in the multi-stakeholder manner. The 11 MAB described the process, and explored some
Arab region to initiate this assessment members are leading experts representing of the challenges faced including “some
at national level. The launch was different groups and government branches data which availability was still unclear,”
convened on the occasion of the first including the Ministry of Communication and policies in development that may affect
meeting of Tunisian Multi-stakeholder Technologies and Digital Economy, the the applicability of the indicators. After the
Advisory Board (MAB), participated by High Independent Authority of Audiovisual presentation, a discussion was held during
11 prominent members of the Board. Communication (HAICA), the National which board members expressed their
“The Tunisian MAB endorsed the use of Agency for Information Security (ANSI), views on the topic presented and shared
UNESCO’s Internet Universality Indicators Access Now, the Research and Studies some of their own reports and statistics.
and the proposed methodology for the Telecommunications Centre (CERT), By participating in the meeting and helping
assessment in Tunisia and encouraged University of Sfax, Forum DSI, and the with the process from data collection
all other concerned stakeholders, on a National Telecom Regulator in Tunisia to methodology, members have shown
voluntary basis, to support the national (INTT). UNESCO staff Nejib Mokni interest and enthusiasm in the process. The
assessment of Internet development presented an overview of UNESCO’s. Ms. Internet Universality ROAM-X Indicators
in Tunisia with the Internet Universality Karima Mahmoudi, Director at INTT and framework is a set of 303 indicators
Indicators. Such engagement is crucial to Ms. Wafa Ben Hassine presented the that aims to assess how well national
formulating and implementing UNESCO assessment process conducted by the stakeholders including governments,
recommendations that can help improve National Telecom Regulator of Tunisia companies and civil society perform in
Internet development in the country”, (INTT) who is the leading national organize, adhering to the ROAM standards of Rights,
said Ms. Golda El-Khoury, Director & the data collection, and methodology in Openness, Accessiblity, Multistakeholder
Representative – UNESCO Cluster office for Tunisia. They discussed the methodology participation. Developed over a three-
the Maghreb. The launch event highlighted suggested for the assessment of the IUIs year process of global and inclusive
consultations with stakeholders, it was
endorsed in November 2018 by the 31st
Council of the International Program for the
Development of Communication (IPDC).
Since then, UNESCO has been working
with stakeholders and encouraging
more countries to implement national
assessments of Internet development
using the Indicators. The first assessment
of Internet Universality indicators was
completed in Brazil and has been published
by UNESCO as the first edition of the newly
created Series of National Assessment of
Internet Universality Indicators.

Telecom Imports Rise in Pakistan

Pakistan’s overall telecom imports bill goods to $161.895 million in Dec 2019, million in Dec 2018. However, import of
surged by 29 percent to $844.657 million from $110.006 million in Dec 2018. Up by other apparatuses scaled down by 22
in July-Dec 2019-20, official figures say. 69.25 million or $252.102 million, mobile percent or $63.372 million to $228.509 in
Increase in the telecom imports reached handsets import grew to $616.148 million July-Dec 2019-20 from $291.881 million
to the tune of $188.73 million in July-Dec in July-Dec 2019-20 comparing with their in July-Dec 2018-19. Import of other
2019-20 from $655.927 million in July- import of $364.046 million in July-Dec apparatuses reduced to $44.213 million
Dec 2018-19, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics 2018-19. Cellular phones import in Dec in Dec 2019 from $50.611 million in Dec
suggests. The country imported 47.17 2019 stood at 98.13 percent or $58.287 2018.
percent or $51.889 million more telecom million to $117.682 million from $59.395

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