Page 92 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

continued to rise at a steady pace (+21.5%), accounting for 9.4 mobile internet connections (down from 53.7% in Q2). Orange
percent of total mobile connections. LTE subscriptions remained Morocco saw its market share increase by 0.6 percentage points
on a strong upward trend (+48.8%), reaching 13.4 million at end since Q2 to 22.6 percent, while Inwi remains broadly stable at 24.4
September or 55 percent of the mobile internet base. In the fixed percent. Looking at the overall mobile market, Maroc Telecom
broadband segment, ADSL customers rose 4.7 percent to 1.5 held 42.6 percent of total mobile connections (down from 43.2
million, while the number of FTTP lines increased to 105,000. percent in Q2). Its rivals Orange Morocco and Inwi both gained
Maroc Telecom retained a strong lead over rivals in the internet ground marginally, ending September with a market share of 34.7
segment, accounting for 53.0 percent of combined fixed and and 22.7 percent respectively. (January 5, 2020) telecompaper.com

Nepal

The Nepalese government has overturned the Nepal of Karnali province and Far-western province. Optical Fiber
Telecommunications Authority’s (NTA) decision to revoke network expands from Musikot, Rukum to Jhulalghat, Baitadi. The
the licenses of telecom service providers Smart Telecom and fiber connects to districts of Karnali Pradesh and Sudur-paschim
Nepal Satellite Telecom (NST) and the ISP WebSurfer for non- Pradesh in total of 20 districts including Banke and Bardiya. In the
payment of fees, reports a Telecoms Ministry official. During a project, they will use ADSS Fiber and Direct Buried Cable (DBC)
cabinet meeting on 6 January, it was decided to allow the three along 2400 Km. Similarly, they will expand the optical fiber network
companies to continue to operate and pay their outstanding using DWDM, router, and even microwave. The network in Mid-hill
liabilities in two instalments over twelve months. According to highway, East-West highway, North-South Highway and Postal
the NTA, Smart Telecom owes NPR2.3 billion (USD19.8 million) highway will have a minimum of 96 core fiber. Similarly, they will
in frequency royalties, license fees and other contributions, NST use at least 48 and 24 core optical fiber in district headquarters
NPR827 million and WebSurfer NPR37 million. and municipalities respectively. Looking at the current and future
(January 8, 2020) The Himalayan Times demand of voice and data, the optical fiber network will have a
capacity of up to 400 G with Multiple 100G’s. Similarly, multiple
Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) and Nepal Telecom 10G capacity router would be used to expand the capacity up to
(NTC) have inked a deal for the optical fiber network in Karnali 100G. The information highway built from the optical fiber network
and Far-Western region. They also agree to use the Rural would prove to be an important landmark to fulfill the plan of
Telecommunication Development Fund (RTDF) to extend the digital Nepal. Similarly, it would reduce the double investment in
optical fiber network for the Mid Hill information highway. A telecommunications infrastructures through the re-use of already
program was held on January 3, 2020, Friday in the Capital for the established infrastructures. Such nationwide infrastructures
agreement. In the program NTA Chairman, Mr. Purshottam Khanal would play an important role in making telecommunication
and Managing director of Nepal Telecom, Mr. Dilliram Adhikari services and technologies dependent on telecommunication
signed the agreement letter. On that occasion, Chairman of NTA, (like E-governance) cheap, easily available and reliable. Nepal
Mr. Khanal expects Nepal Telecom would complete the project on Telecom will issue a tender under the estimated amount of 3
time that will help to establish the foundation for building Digital Billion and 8.1 million through the Rural Telecommunication
Nepal. He also expressed that the project will aid in the sharing Development Fund (RTDF). As per the official information, the
of the infrastructures in Nepal. Similarly, Managing Director of tender will be published within three months. After the contact,
Nepal Telecom, Mr. Adhikari believed such projects would play an Ntc will complete the infrastructure project within 2 years of the
important role in expanding communication facilities in rural and contract agreement. Nepal Telecommunication Authority and
challenging places like Karnali and Far-Western region. Similarly, Nepal Telecom had an understanding on December 5 to agree on
he also committed to providing a good quality network that is up this project within a month. For which they have succeeded to
to the standards. According to the agreement, they will target to complete the agreement in the stipulated time. The company is
build the Optical Fiber Backbone Network in the two provinces. The currently expanding optical fiber networks under Mid-Hill highway
optical fiber will connect the districts headquarters, municipalities on Province 1, 2 and 3. (January 5, 2020) nepalitelecom.com

Oman

The Ministry of Technology and Communications signed an and Takween, the annual investment program affiliated to Oman
agreement to launch Oman’s first specialized cybersecurity Technology Fund. The project is a brick stone in the nascent
accelerator, in cooperation with the Oman-Britain digital center MENA region and it aims to support companies operating in the

92 JANUARY 2020