Page 123 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

in training about 600,000 young people over the past three years has also established the largest electronics industry hub in Egypt,
through a variety of programs and initiatives. These include short- at the Knowledge City in the New Administrative Capital. The hub
term training programs, freelancing training, undergraduate ICT houses 24 companies specialized in electronics design to serve
specialized education, and master’s scholarships in technical as a center for research and development (R&D), testing and
disciplines. The training programs cover various ICT disciplines, innovation, with its specialized labs. The Ministry also developed
with focusing on electronics design, Talaat said, adding that MCIT the ICT infrastructure at $4 billion to boost Internet speed, the ICT
works to increase the number of specialists in this industry and Minister noted. As a result, Egypt now has the highest median
enhance their competitiveness. The ICT Minister underlined that fixed broadband speed in Africa. Furthermore, MCIT developed
Egypt is developing policies to attract local and foreign investment policies for strengthening the start-up ecosystem and fostering
to the electronics industry, including by establishing economic and tech innovation and entrepreneurship.
industrial tech zones and specialized labs to stimulate the growth (January 19, 2023) www.mcit.gov.eg/en
of electronics manufacturers. The ICT Minister revealed that MCIT

Libya

Libya will host the North African Internet Governance Forum on bears the slogan "Digital Libya 202", and within the objectives
February 23, while the Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah has of developing policies, legislation, laws and regulations related
announced that his government will pay the costs of the forum, to digital transformation and Internet governance. The Minister
according to the General Authority for Telecommunications and of Communication and Political Affairs Walid Ellafi confirmed
Information. The General Authority for Telecommunications and that Libya was one of the African countries "that is located in an
Information, Libya Telecom and Technology Company, and the important geographical position, being a transit gateway in the
Libyan Internet Commission, held a press conference in Tripoli field of telecommunications and the Internet in the future, which
on Monday to announce hosting the forum, which is organized by requires interventions at the policy level, so the government
the General Authority for Telecommunications and Information, adopted the executive regulations of the Telecommunications
in the presence of the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Adel Law and it worked on building and developing youth capacities to
Jumua, and the Minister of State for Communication and Political ensure high levels of service. Ellafi stressed the need for Africa
Affairs Walid Ellafi. The Ministry of Telecommunications said in to devise ways to keep pace with the growing demand for digital
a statement that the event came within the general policy of the infrastructure, bridge communication gaps, and create decent job
Telecommunications Commission and its plan for 2023, which opportunities. (January 25, 2023) https://libyaobserver.ly

Nepal

Telecom regulator Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) same broadband strategy it has adopted with its nationwide free
will provide internet service at various TU (Tribhuvan University) broadband project at local levels. The project has also started free
campuses around the country. The authority has signed internet services at community schools, colleges, wards, health
agreements with many colleges including Sanskrit University. The centers, etc. The high-speed fiber internet will make TU campuses
internet service will be free of charge. The regulator has signed and Sanskrit University works more efficient and accessible.
an agreement with respective universities for broadband service. Likewise, it will benefit the Digital Nepal initiatives by helping to
NTA Chairman, Purushottam Khanal, Registrar Prof. Dr. Peshal connect more people with broadband internet and promote digital
Dahal from Tribhuvan University, and Registrar Madhav Adhikari inclusion. Nepal though has a growing number of subscribers
on behalf of Nepal Sanskrit University signed the MoU. The free in numbers, the figure doesn’t translate into reality. As many in
internet project for TU will use the rural telecommunication rural areas are still without consistent internet service. Many are
development fund (RTDF). The internet service will be established without fiber connectivity and are dependent on 2G for voice only.
at TU and Sanskrit university. Telecom companies in Nepal pay a At colleges, many are still deprived of consistent internet access
sum of their profit in RTDF to NTA which it mobilizes for various which could prove vital for learning. NTA’s project if works to plan
service expansion projects. The authority said that the broadband will further contribute to uplifting the lives of many at higher-level
connectivity will be free for two years but the respective of education with the help of high-speed internet.
educational institutions will need to bear charges afterward. It’s the (February 6, 2023) www.nepalitelecom.com

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