Page 87 - SAMENA Trends - January 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

He added that revamping the infrastructure included protecting services in collaboration with the private sector to facilitate a
networks while modernizing telecom towers in accordance with digital transformation.” In November, Bahrain launched a bold and
international standards, developing administrative regulations ambitious Economic Recovery Plan to stimulate post-pandemic
and monitoring the frequency spectrum in addition to developing growth which will see more than $30 billion invested in national
the Sixth National Telecommunications Plan. Also among the infrastructure and strategic priority sectors. (January 16, 2022) zawya.com
speakers was Labor Fund (Tamkeen) chief executive Hussain
Rajab and Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry’s Assistant Telecommunication Regulatory Authority is conducting a study
Under-Secretary for Commercial Registration and Companies on emerging and digital technologies in the telecommunications
Nibras Talib. “The iGA has several initiatives, programmes and sector as part of its transition to a digital future. The move aims at
projects in the pipeline to positively impact the economy and spotting opportunities and risks associated with each technology.
develop the performance of services provided in line with current The study, according to TRA, is to address the regulatory, security,
developments,” said Mr. Al Qaed. “Electronic governance is one competition, data privacy, and ethical aspects of all the related
of the key objectives that iGA is focusing on through a full digital emerging technologies that apply to the telecommunications
transformation of all government documents and certificates sector. TRA plans to conduct the study by appointing an
created in Bahrain or abroad. “We will also further develop the eKey experienced and suitably qualified consultant company, for
services and provide more options which serves a large portion of which it has also launched a tender. The successful bidder, TRA
society while protecting their data and facilitating the provision says, should develop a roadmap for adopting and implementing
of services and electronic payments.” New developments will the way forward to achieve the key objectives identified by each
include an option to allow the online authorization for individuals emerging technology. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, TRA’s IT
to conduct services on behalf of others. Plans are underway to Department had proactively invested in collaboration services
further develop existing government applications while also such as Microsoft’s Officer 365 cloud services, VOIP technologies
creating new ones which bring together more comprehensive and virtual meetings. During the early days of Pandemic, the
services that are easy to access, widespread and efficient. internal portal ‘iTRA’ was launched, paving the way for digital
Mr. Rajab said that efforts are in full swing at Tamkeen for a signatures, reducing paper-based workflows and increasing the
comprehensive digital restructuring of all programmes, initiatives overall productivity of both the remote’ and in-office employees.
and strategies carried out by the Labor Fund. “We are sparing no TRA also launched Human Resources Management System
efforts towards enhancing the role of IT in achieving e-trade and mobile application to digitalize HR practices and create a platform
creating a sustainable digital economy and transitioning digitally,” for TRA employees. Make bids before the 23rd of February 2022,
said Mr. Talib. “Awareness and trust in the system are critical for with a BD100 bond and BD15 tender fees.
its success and we are working towards offering value-added (January 16, 2022) newsofbahrain.com

Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission it said. ‘No person or business entity shall be allowed to establish,
has made obtaining its license a must for any satellite business operate and maintain satellite systems and services without a
entity for providing services in the country. So, overseas satellite valid license issued by the commission,’ the guidelines said. The
operators or entities which were providing services, including BTRC set the licensing fee for the private satellite operators at
satellite internet access service, to their clients in Bangladesh Tk 25 crore, annual licensing fee at Tk 5 crore, up to 2 per cent
would not be allowed to continue operations in the country revenue sharing and a provision of 1 per cent revenue sharing
without getting a license from the BTRC, an official of the with the regulatory body, among others. However, a clause in the
commission told New Age. The official said that the BTRC issued guidelines has authorized the government to make decision on the
the Regulatory and Licensing Guidelines for Satellite Operation fees and charges in the case of state-owned satellite companies.
in Bangladesh on January 2 and the guidelines mention the rule. Section 9 of the guidelines has outlined the applicable fees and
The telecom regulatory commission’s guidelines have come at a charges to any satellite company. Subsection 4 of Section 9 said,
time when a substantial portion of capacity of the country’s lone ‘The government may take decision time to time in case of state-
state-owned satellite, Bangabandhu Satellite 1, remains unsold or owned satellite company.’ Asked whether the Bangladesh Satellite
unutilized. Section 5 of the guidelines said, ‘Initially the licensee Company Limited, the operating entity of Bangabandhu-1, will
shall operate and lease its own transponder capacity.’ ‘To provide have to take license, another official of the commission said that
service through rented transponder, prior permission from the the BSCL is supposed to take license as the guidelines have made
commission is required,’ it said. ‘If the licensee takes initiative to it a must. All the country’s television channel is now using service
launch further satellites, it will have to take written prior approval of Bangabandhu Satellite-1. The satellite was launched in May
from the commission for providing services through new satellite,’ 12, 2018 at the cost of Tk 2,702 crore. According to BSCL, the

87 JANUARY 2022