Page 88 - SAMENA Trends - January 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

and 3.5GHz band frequencies for the 5G service, said the draft services in addition to other generations of cellular mobile phone
guidelines, adding that the licensee has to obtain the spectrum services.
designated for 5G technology from the commission to provide 5G (January 11, 2021) newagebd.net

Egypt

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (AI). These opportunities end with the implementation of work
has announced that 16 small- and medium-sized enterprises in the aforementioned fields. Since its launch, the initiative has
(SMEs) will implement 15 digital transformation projects at provided, through its platform, about 31 opportunities in digital
government agencies. The total value of these projects stands at transformation projects, with an estimated value of EGP 80m.
more than EGP 43.5m, and come as part of the “Our Opportunity (January 10, 2021) dailynewsegypt.com
is Digital” initiative. Minister of Communications and Information
Technology Amr Talaat said that the announcement reflects the New frequency band allocation agreements have been signed
ministry’s keenness to stimulate creativity among SMEs working by three mobile operators working in the Egyptian market. The
in the IT field. It also aims to provide them with opportunities frequencies were granted to Vodafone Egypt, Etisalat Misr, and
to participate in the implementation of digital transformation Telecom Egypt (TE) by the National Telecom Regulatory Authority
projects. Talaat said that the coming period will witness the (NTRA). Minister of Communications and Information Technology
launch of another set of projects and opportunities for SMEs Amr Talaat, who witnessed the signing ceremony, said that his
in Egypt. In a press release, the minister added that SMEs play ministry will not delay the introduction of new frequencies
an important role in economic growth, in addition to creating according to market needs. Talaat said that the agreements are
job opportunities for youth. He also said that such initiatives the result of fruitful cooperation over several months between the
open up wider horizons for Egypt’s youth to gain experience, mobile companies, the NTRA, and the Armed Forces' Signal Corps.
and obtain the skills for government work that enhance their He emphasized that, since the beginning of 2019, the Ministry of
competitiveness in the local and global markets. The companies Communications and Information Technology has begun plans
have won digital business opportunities and projects in four to support Egypt's infrastructure. As part of these efforts, the
different categories, namely: Quality Management & Testing; government has invested nearly EGP 30bn in developing Egypt's
GG Web Services integration services; Content Digitization; and communications network. Vodafone purchased a band of 40
Analysis, Design and Project Engineering. A total of four SMEs MHz for $540m, TE took 20 MHz for $305m, and Etisalat took 20
won in the Quality Management and Testing category. The “Our MHz for $325m. Talaat said that the agreements with the three
Opportunity is Digital” initiative aims to enhance the contribution companies are a step towards supporting Egypt's information
of SMEs registered on the Information Technology Industry infrastructure. They also take into account the communications
Development Authority (ITIDA) database in implementing digital sector's significant and pivotal role over 2020, during the
transformation projects for government agencies. The initiative novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Minister added
provides business opportunities through three tributaries, that, following the recent developments, Egypt's information
namely the implementation of business through contracting infrastructure was able to bear the increasing burdens placed
with government agencies directly, and the implementation of on telecommunications services by users during the height of
works through contracting with companies contracting with the pandemic. He also noted that mobile companies raised the
government agencies. This is in addition to skill competitions principle of participatory volunteer work, to meet consumers'
that include training opportunities for workers at SMEs to hone needs during the last phase.
their skills in the field of data science and artificial intelligence (January 2, 2021) menafn.com

Iran

Hamrave Aval (Mobile Company of Iran, MCI) has started according to the scheduled program and will soon be put into
commissioning 5G since the beginning of the current year (started operation. Building of Hamrave Aval and four other points have
March 21, 2020) and will be put into operation by yearend (to end been appointed as candidate location including Milad Tower,
March 20, 2021). The Director-General of Hamrahe Aval (Mobile Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (ICT),
Company of Iran, MCI) revealed the program of this operator Book Garden, and Tehran University of Shahid Beheshti University,
for offering 5G technology of mobile phone. 5G program of MCI the director-general added.
has started with utmost power and pilot project has been made (January 5, 2021) tehrantimes.com

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