Page 127 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

license waived all taxes and took the government of South Sudan by the court, although the government is seeking to appeal this
to the International Court of Arbitration, demanding USD3 billion judgement and is looking to hire national and international law
in restitution. According to reports, it was awarded USD1 billion firms. (January 24, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

Tunisia

The Ministry of Communication Technologies has announced phase aims to extend coverage to 112 areas. The Ministry also
plans to launch the second phase of its white spots (areas that said the number of mobile base stations owned by the three main
are currently uncovered) coverage project. This project aims to operators will increase from 5,679 in 2021 to 5,903 by the end of
expand access to broadband internet in Tunisia. It will do this by 2022. The three operators – Ooredoo Tunisia, Tunisie Telecom and
highlighting priority deployment areas in an effort to close the Orange Tunisie – also share 1,289 radio sites to improve access
digital divide between different areas of the country. Phase one while reducing operating costs. In its statement the ministry added
of the project involved coverage of so-called white spots in 94 that the number of 4G antennas in the country increased from
areas, providing internet access for more than 164 schools, 59 5,614 in 2021 to 6,560 antennas in 2022, with a penetration rate
basic health centres and 180,000 inhabitants. The first phase of of around 65% by the end of 2022. This growth seems to underline
the project also enabled the installation of 71 mobile phone base the concerns of the June 2022 announcement in which the state-
stations. According to the Zawya news service, the Ministry made owned incumbent Tunisie Telecom said it wanted to get rid of 3G
a statement earlier this week in which it said that, following the to focus on 4G, a move driven, in part, by the rapid migration of
completion of the first phase of this project in 2022, the second many users from 3G to 4G. (February 1, 2023) www.developingtelecoms.com

United Arab Emirates

The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory or in the Gulf countries.” The workshop included training sessions
Authority (TDRA) held the workshop “Management and Allocation facilitated by a group of lecturers accredited by ICAO, such as a
of Aeronautical Radio Frequency Spectrum in the GCC Countries”, session on planning and explaining aeronautical frequencies and
in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation standards, a session on the current frequency allocation plan in
Organization (ICAO) and in coordination with the GCC Technical the Middle East, two training sessions on ICAO frequency
Office for Telecommunications. The workshop was attended by a identification process in the Middle East, a training on the use of
group of specialists from the GCC countries, in addition to UAE the approved electronic system for technical analysis and
authorities such as the Ministry of Defense, the General Civil allocation through pre-prepared scenarios. The workshop, which
Aviation Authority (GCAA), and representatives of airports and was presented by ICAO-accredited experts, included a presentation
airlines in the UAE. The workshop shed light on the mechanism on the followed procedures for aeronautical radio frequency
used by ICAO to allocate air navigation and aviation frequencies allocation and the requests’ analysis mechanism. The participants
and the technical analysis mechanism of these frequencies. It also received training on the use of the ICAO electronic system for
reviewed the main features of the system used in the process of allocating aeronautical frequencies, ‘Frequency Finder Tools’.
technical analysis and customization. It focused on the latest TDRA hosted this workshop as part of its endeavors to develop the
methods and systems through which frequencies are allocated, to capabilities of all stakeholders, provide them with the necessary
ensure their use without any interference that may affect air traffic skills and qualifications, and invest in building capacities and
and air safety. Eng. Saleh Al Masabi, Director of Spectrum Services national human cadres in line with the directions of the UAE
at TDRA, said: “The aviation sector is one of the vital sectors that Government and its future vision. The workshop is also part of the
are impacted by TDRA’s scope of work in terms of reliance on efforts to develop the services provided to the aviation sector in
aeronautical radio frequencies. We, at TDRA, attach high the UAE, facilitate air traffic operations, and support strategic
importance to this sector based on its positive impact on the UAE’s partners in the aviation sector to carry out their tasks and maintain
global competitiveness. Hence the importance of this workshop, the UAE’s leading position in this field. (January 17, 2023) https://tdra.gov.ae
which benefits workers in the aviation sector, whether in the UAE

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