Page 94 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

would have capability of being up-gradable to consider upcoming Number of mobile phone users in Pakistan reached 164.027
mobile network technologies and related Advance parameters, million by end November compared to 162.98 million by end
such as VoLTE and 5G etc and active and optimized power control October, which registered an increase of 1.047 million during
for phone charging. The installation of the QoS system should the period under review. Jazz’s total count for 3G users stood at
be in such a way that the set up provides optimal conditions for 12.047 million by end November compared to 12.255 million by
uninterrupted data collection in a stable environment for reliable end October, registering a decrease of 0.208 million. Jazz 4G user
test results. The equipment should be capable of benchmarking numbers jumped from 13.821 by end October to 14.505 million by
multiple scenarios of voice, SMS and data services of least end November 2019. Zong 3G subscribers decreased from 7.751
five networks simultaneously and continuously. Moreover, it by end October to 7.633 million by end November while the number
should have capability to expand and include more operators, if of 4G users jumped from 14.221 million by end October to 14.702
required. It should support both perceptual evaluation of speech million by end November. The number of 3G users of Telenor
quality (PESQ) and perceptual objective listening quality analysis network decreased from 8.032 million by end October to 7.935
(POLQA) voice/ video quality mean opinion score (MOS) for both million i.e. registering a decrease of 0.097 million. The number of
narrow and wide band. The system would support application 4G users jumped from 8.052 million by end October to 8.432 million
based testing like, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, WhatsApp, by end November. Ufone 3G users decreased from 6.695 million
Netflix etc and should provide flexibility to support multiple by end October to 6.454 million by end November. The number of
device types of multiple vendors including but not limited to 4G users of Ufone increased from 2.430 million by end October
smart phones, modems and mini-cards etc. It should be able to to 2.628 million by end November. Teledensity for cellular mobile
benchmark all possible testing scenarios in auto technology and reached 77 percent by end November. The broadband subscribers
locked mode. All the technologies 2G/3G/4G and all the bands reached 76.38 million by end November compared to 75.30 million
can be locked also there should be flexibility to lock/unlock any by end October 2019. PTA received 6986 complaints from telecom
desired technologies. Further, the tool should be able to lock consumers against different telecom operators including (cellular
and test specific Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)/ Primary operators, PTCL, LDIs, WLL operators and ISPs) as of November
Scrambling Code (PSC)/ Physical Cell Identity (PCI)/ Absolute 2019. PTA said that it was able to get 6960 complaints resolved
Radio Frequency Channel Number (ARFCN)/ Universal Mobile i.e. 99 percent. Cellular mobile subscribers constitute major part
Telecommunication Service (UMTS) Absolute Radio Frequency of the overall telecom subscriber base, therefore, a maximum
Channel Number (UARFCN)/ Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio number of complaints belong to this segment. The total number of
Access (E-UTRA) Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number complaints against CMOs by November stood at 5980. The total
(EARFCN). It should support minimum 16 handsets for Voice, SMS of 2492 complaints were received against Jazz which is 41.67% of
and Data services simultaneously, besides have the capability the total CMO related complaints. Telenor, which has the second-
to benchmark data services of all the operators simultaneously largest number of consumers, was also second with 1576 i.e.
without any dependency on laptop’s modem and without any 26.35 percent complaints were received against it. Zong stood
degradation. The system should have ability to load Geo Maps, third with 1047 complaints i.e. 17.50 percent of total complaints.
Google Maps, tab/shape and network files etc. Any parameter can Ufone had 865 complaints against its various services which
be exported in multiple formats like CSV, Txt, Tab, KML/KMZ, etc, make up 14.46 percent of the total CMO related complaints. PTA
both as image and point. (January 1, 2020) brecorder.com also received 345 complaints against basic telephony where 341
were addressed during November 2019. Further 642 complaints
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has revealed that were received against ISPs where 635 were addressed.
the number of 3G/4G users in Pakistan reached 74.33 million by (December 31, 2019) phoneworld.com.pk
end November compared to 73.26 million by the end of October.

Saudi Arabia

The Communications and Information Technology Commission generate new jobs, enhance innovation in the services provision
(CITC) tendered 2 new mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and make more options available to telecommunications and
licenses to the Saudi telecom operators, according to an information technology end users in Saudi Arabia, according to
official statement. “These licenses will likely boost investment the statement. Interested bidders should submit their offers by
opportunities in the telecom industry, support entrepreneurship May 10, 2020.
and enhance content industry as well as service diversification,” (January 12, 2020) argaam.com
CITC Governor, Mohammed Altamimi said. The statement added
that the licenses aim to enhance the business environment, The Communications and Information Technology Commission
promote competition in the market, and foster the adoption of revealed a number of qualitative leaps achieved by the
international best practices across the industry. They will also telecommunications and information technology sector in 2019

94 JANUARY 2020