Page 122 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Telecom Minister Mustafa Jabbar said it is crucial years in line with the TRIPS Agreement. According to Rahman,
to protect the intellectual property rights of digital innovations. analyzing the Act should be the first step in terms of IP protection
Jabbar gave the statement at an event held in Dhaka in December to help transform the country into Smart Bangladesh. “Besides,
2022 celebrating the 25th anniversary of Robi Axiata Limited, a now compulsory licenses only are issued by the government. The
mobile network operator in Bangladesh. The telecom minister Act must be analyzed if the same supplies protection to patents
spoke about the importance of preserving IP in implementing which are foreign-registered, enforcement mechanisms and
Smart Bangladesh. Smart Bangladesh Innovation 2041 aims to effective protection available for violation and if the court or other
bridge the digital divide in the country, culminating in a developed authority so empowered is allowed to grant damages and so on,”
and prosperous Bangladesh by the year 2041. Unveiled by said Rahman. (January 18, 2023) The Daily Star
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during Digital Bangladesh Day on The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
December 12, 2022, Smart Bangladesh is anchored on four pillars: (BTRC) has lifted a ban on GrameenPhone’s SIM sales, which was
Smart Citizens, Smart Government, Smart Economy and Smart imposed in June 2022 on the grounds of ‘poor quality of service’.
Society. According to Jabbar, there will be no Smart Bangladesh Company CEO Yasir Azman confirmed that the operator had
without innovation. He added that there should be only one IP received a letter from the regulator on the withdrawal of the ban.
office releasing patent and copyright certificates. Mohammed The executive disclosed: ‘Since the imposition of the embargo, the
Forrukh Rahman, head and barrister-in-law at Rahman’s Chambers company has had a constructive dialogue with the regulator and
in Dhaka, mentioned Bangladesh Patent Act 2022 which repealed has repeatedly reiterated that such a move deprives customers of
the Patents and Designs Act, 1911. Passed by the Parliament of exercising their freedom of choice and raises investor concerns.’
Bangladesh in April 2022, the Act allows patent protection for 20 (January 5, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

Egypt

The National Center for ICT Service Quality Control and Monitoring Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA)
of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has issued and the Egyptian Information Telecommunications Electronics
its Quality of Service (QoS) Benchmark Report for the fourth and Software Alliance (EiTESAL). Officials and representatives
quarter of 2022 (October to December). The report is part of NTRA of more than 60 local and global companies specializing in the
efforts in improving the quality of telecommunication services. semiconductor design and embedded systems industry, as
It showcases the indicators of the quality of voice and Internet well as several experts and academics attended the Summit.
services provided by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Egypt. The event includes seminars and panel discussions aimed
The quality of services provided by each MNO was measured in 81 at highlighting the current state of the semiconductor global
areas (cities and districts). Specimens of calls and data transfers industry, as well as the advantages and competitiveness of
were tested to measure the quality of telecommunication services, the Egyptian market. Topics in advanced technologies, venture
using measuring equipment and vehicles. Field scans were capital, the future of semiconductors and embedded systems in
conducted in 122,000 km in main and secondary roads in urban the automotive industry, in addition to the challenges facing the
and rural areas during that period. According to the report, the industry, most notably talent shortage, were discussed during
service quality improved in various areas that experienced low the Summit. In his speech, the ICT Minister emphasized that the
quality of voice services, by 34%, and Internet services, by 41% in domestic electronics industry is growing, with Egypt developing
the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to the same period in 2021. and prioritizing it. He pointed out that the electronics industry
It is worth noting that NTRA has taken several steps to improve the development strategy is implemented to enhance Egypt’s position
quality of telecommunication services. It adopted 2,930 new base on the global map of that significant industry. The strategy stands
stations during the mentioned period, imposed fines on MNOs on five pillars: capacity building, partnerships, strengthening of
who did not meet quality standards, enhanced network coverage foundations, policy development, and electronics manufacturing
on main roads, and implemented 199 seizures of signal boosters hubs. Talaat added that capacity building is the cornerstone of
(repeaters) and unauthorized devices. (February 6, 2023) www.mcit.gov.eg the electronics industry development. He explained that Egypt has
a rich talent pool, where 250,000 graduates in science, technology,
The Minister of Communications and Information Technology engineering, and mathematics, 50,000 of whom graduate from
Amr Talaat opened, today, the Global Semiconductor Alliance the Faculty of Engineering. Talaat emphasized the efforts made
(GSA) 2023 Egypt Summit, in Cairo. The Summit is the inaugural by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
event of GSA Egypt, established in collaboration with the (MCIT) to invest in building youth’s digital capabilities, resulting

122 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2023