Page 92 - SAMENA Trends - February 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

SI Global CEO. He further explained that the rationalization plan regulations on tariffs. Under the proposed guidelines – ‘Tariff for
optimized that use to enable all networks to reach audience more Telecommunication Services Regulations, 2022’ – the PTA would
efficiently and broaden the areas of their reach, expanding the have greater authority to regulate pricing for services, requiring
landscape they could cover as well as increasing access for the operators with significant market power (SMP) to submit
public. It would increase the scope of networks and allow better proposals for tariff changes in advance. The draft regulations set
utilization of services, he noted. The spectrum rationalization plan out a process for amendments to be made to tariffs, including the
will optimize the use of radio frequency spectrum, avoid and solve criteria for the PTA to approve or reject the tariff proposals. The
interference, design short and long-range frequency allocations regulations allow the PTA to set price ceilings and floors for basic
and advance the introduction of new wireless technologies. Jazz telecommunications services. Also covered by the document are
CEO Aamir Hafeez Ibrahim said that “the rationalization exercise a number of consumer protection measures, such as requiring
makes spectrum allocation in Pakistan more efficient”. “Telecom operators to: seek permission from customers before renewing
users, businesses and society as a whole stand to gain from subscriptions; inform users when they reach certain thresholds
improved options for network coverage and quality,” he added. of usage (50%, 80% and 100% of their allowance); and publish
(February 20, 2022) tribune.com.pk detailed information on charges applicable to tariffs. As noted by
TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, the PTA published a
Sector regulator the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority similar paper in February last year.
(PTA) has published a public consultation paper for draft (February 2, 2022) commsupdate.com

Saudi Arabia

The Communications and Information Technology Commission services. Going forward CITC aims to consolidate its position for
(CITC) has revealed that it will hold an auction for spectrum in the releasing large amounts of spectrum in an innovative manner to
2100MHz band for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) technologies facilitate multiple use cases. This innovative approach led the Wi-
such as 5G-non-terrestrial networks (5G-NTN), mobile satellite Fi Alliance to endorse the Kingdom’s leadership in enabling the
services (MSS), internet on airplane (A2G), and internet of things next generation of wireless services which will unleash a wave of
via satellite (MSS-IoT) on 23 August 2022. The Information new Wi-Fi 6E products and services to Saudi Arabia’s consumers,
Memorandum and the Auction Rules will be released beforehand enterprises, and economy. CITC aims to ensure the regulatory
on 26 June 2022, the CITC said. The authority is aiming to award transparency and to enable the latest emerging technology
2×30MHz of paired spectrum at 1980MHz-2010MHz/2170MHz- applications such as WiGig, virtual and augmented reality (VR /
2200MHz, divided into two blocks of 2×15MHz each. Block A2 AR) and the Internet of Things (IoT). Underpinning this ambition
(1995MHz-2010MHz/2185MHz-2200MHz) will be initially limited is CITC’s ongoing policy of engaging with industry stakeholders
to MSS services, with the successful bidder given the option to and collaborating with vendors and service providers that has
apply for an upgrade of the license for terrestrial technologies. resulted in its establishment of a flexible regulatory framework
(February 28, 2022) commsupdate.com that increases capacity and creates the environment to facilitate
the rapid deployment of a new generation of wireless services.
The Communications and Information Technology Commission In addition, CITC has collaborated with vendors in the industry to
has published its “WLAN Regulations”, which strengthens the facilitate importing the new generation of Wi-Fi devices (Wi-Fi 6E)
Kingdom’s regional and global leadership in the field Wi-Fi and into the Kingdom. (February 22, 2022) citc.gov.sa
license-exempt technologies, activates the latest generation of
high-speed telecommunication technologies in the Kingdom, The Communications and Information Technology Commission
and enables the use of emerging and future technologies. The (CITC) has issued the “Fixed Wireless Links Regulations” through
“WLAN Regulations” set out regulatory policy for the use of which CITC offers Ultra Wide-band channels, adopts new
WLAN applications in the Kingdom and it makes available new licensing mechanism for fixed wireless links, and determines the
spectrum in the 6 GHz and 60 GHz bands to stimulate further guidelines to enable Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) applications
use of WLAN applications. CITC hopes to see these regulations in the Kingdom. These Regulations identify the fixed wireless
lead to an acceleration in the adoption and deployment of Wi- links frequency bands , their channel allocation plans, the
Fi6E in the Kingdom. CITC plays a strategic role as a digital licensing mechanism in the Kingdom, in addition to the technical
regulator to enable the digital transformation of the Kingdom and regulatory conditions for using fixed wireless links for
and maximize its digital economical value. This role is being bands identified for these services. Following a previous public
executed through its progressive spectrum policy to implement consultation and the assessment of the users' needs of fixed
the National Spectrum Strategy 2025 and the CITC Outlook for wireless links, CITC has developed this document which aims to
Commercial and Innovative Use of Spectrum 2023, which has a optimize current spectrum use for fixed wireless links which will
main pillar focusing on enabling the new generation of wireless contribute to increase the spectral usage efficiency, support 5G

92 FEBRUARY 2022