Page 126 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Saudi Arabia

The Communications, Space and Technology (CST) and the During the signing ceremony, the National Water Company was
Middle East Cloud and Digital Transformation Company Limited represented by H.E. Eng. Mansour Al Mushaiti, Vice Minister of
“CNTXT” have signed a memorandum of understanding during Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of the Steering
LEAP23, which aims to promote cloud services that contribute Committee of the Water Regulator, while the Communications,
to the Kingdom's digital economy, develop the national cadres, Space, and Technology Commission was represented by H.E
and enable various sectors by providing leading technologies Dr. Mohammad Altamimi, CST Governor. The MOU will assist
and solutions that accelerate innovation and support digital the parties' efforts in maximizing the benefit of water sector
transformation. At the ceremony, CST was represented by Mr. Raed infrastructure to expand fiber optics coverage in the Kingdom,
Alfayez, the Deputy Governor for IT and Emerging Technologies, exchanging information and support based on each party's area
while CNTXT was represented by Engineer Abdullah Jarwan, the of expertise in order to find an effective fiber optics extending
CEO of CNTXT. According to CST, the MoU aims to develop the mechanism. It is expected to improve telecom infrastructure
cloud computing sector by attracting value-added tech companies and provide fiber optics to homes by sustaining infrastructure,
known as independent software vendors (ISVs) that are hosted in lowering network delivery costs, increasing user access,
public cloud environment to serve the various benefited sectors, innovating solutions to improve service quality, and reducing
as well as to develop national cadres in a way that supports the drilling and extending impacts. CST is the Kingdom's regulator
Kingdom's 2030 vision development and economic goals. Over the for communications, space and technology and is in charge of
course of three years, the MoU will contribute in Identifying and monitoring and utilizing the sector's technologies and services,
reaching out to more than 100 ISVs, attracting approximately 25 whereas the water regulator is responsible for organizing water
companies to the Saudi market, developing more than 500 national service activities in the water system. (January 30, 2023) www.cst.gov.sa
specialists, and providing more than 120 training opportunities in
collaboration with these specialized companies. CST regulates The Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST)
and develops the cloud computing sector, as well as provides announces the formation of Space Entrepreneurship Alliance
regulatory and motivational initiatives to support the development achieve growth and sustainability in the sector and develop a
of this promising sector. CNTXT is a joint venture between Saudi strong foundation to support entrepreneurs in the Kingdom's
Aramco and the Norwegian company COGNITE, it is also the space sector. The alliance announced during the Commission's
exclusive Google Cloud partner in the Kingdom. participation in the seventh edition of the "Garage Disrupt" event,
(February 9, 2023) www.cst.gov.sa where Mr. Frank Salzgeber, Acting Deputy Governor of the Space
sector at CST, has explained that the alliance aims to create an
H.E. Eng. Abdulrahman AlFadley, Minister of Environment, entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Space Sector and will be a
Water, and Agriculture, and H.E. Eng. Abdullah Alswaha, Minister platform to gather stakeholders to support Saudi entrepreneurs in
of Communications and Information Technology, witnessed innovation, the Garage is the first to join this alliance. In addition,
the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Mr. Frank pointed out that the Alliance aims to create a strong
Communications, Space, and Technology Commission (CST) foundation for innovation and entrepreneurs in Saudi space
and the Water Regulator in the Water Regulator's headquarter sector, by providing access to resources and services like shared
in Riyadh, which relies on innovative solutions that increase the workspaces and technical labs, as well as support initiatives like
benefit of infrastructure, with the goal of utilizing the current accelerator programs, workshops, and Hackathons. The Alliance
infrastructure of the National Water Company (NWC) to extend also seeks to connect entrepreneurs with investors and experts
fiber optics, to enable and accelerate the deployment of the fibers in the field. The Garage Disrupt is a monthly event to gather tech
in the Kingdom, which will contribute to the time, cost, and quality startups and investors with the presence of representatives from
of the provided services while ensuring continuity of service for the public and private sectors to promote growth and sustainability
users and integration between parties to serve the public interest. for startups. (January 25, 2023) www.cst.gov.sa

South Sudan

The Council of Ministers has approved the allocation of USD4.48 fees. The government claims that Vivacell failed to obtain a
million to appeal a court case brought against the government new operating license after South Sudan gained independence,
by former mobile operator Vivacell, reports Eye Radio. Vivacell’s and instead continued to operate under the license awarded by
operating license was suspended by the government in March Sudan which gave it an exemption from paying taxes and fees.
2018, after the cellco failed to pay the required taxes and license Parent company Al Fattouch Group countered that its operating

126 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2023