Page 143 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

mobile apps, accounting for 47% of payments, with the remaining 2022, an increase of 62% compared to the same period last year.
53% carried out via the Portal. This was a 12% increase compared These results reflect the public’s awareness of the value of online
to the same period last year. The most popular apps were BeAware services. Gold Visas, first time passport issuance, Good Conduct
Bahrain, Islamiyat, and eTraffic with an increase of 88%, 81%, and Certificate requests, and civil records updates were the most in-de-
55% respectively. Over 1.2 million transactions were carried out via mand eServices on the Portal. (July 7, 2022) bahrainbiznews.com
the Portal, totaling more than BD306 million in revenues during H1

Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission MA Taleb Hossain, assistant commissioner (land) Md Taj Uddin
(BTRC) has decided to ban import, assembling and manufacturing and an executive magistrate, conducted the drive with the help
3G-only handsets to promote widespread adoption of smartphones of RAB-15 team from Hoaikang camp. Drives were conducted at
and expand digital transformation in the country. The ban will be Kutupalong bazaar, Alam Market, Bakhtiyar Market, Ukhiya bazaar
effective from January 1, 2023, according to a decision taken in and Chowdhury Market of Court bazaar area. A total fine of Tk 9
the latest commission meeting of the telecom regulator. The BTRC lakh and 70 thousand was imposed on several shops for selling
believes 3G-only handsets are hindering expansion of 4G mobile fake and counterfeit mobile handsets, walkie talkies, and fake
networks in the country. Manufacturing of 3G-only handsets in the SIMs. 136 illegal and fake mobile handsets, walkie talkies, fake
country has become almost zero, as local manufacturers produce SIMs and other fake telecommunication equipment were seized,
only a few thousands of such handsets this year, according to the said a press release. In addition, a drive was conducted in the
BTRC statistics. But some importers, under "Mobile Phone Handset office of the unlicensed internet service providers at Chowdhury
Manufacturer and Vendor Enlistment" and "Radio Equipment Market in Court Bazar area of Ukhiya and various unauthorized
Importer and Vendor Enlistment" categories still import 3G-only telecommunication equipment were seized.
handsets. The BTRC has decided not to provide those importers (August 4, 2022) www.newagebd.net
NOC (no objection certificate) for import of 3G-only handsets after
December 31 this year. Meanwhile, production of smart-phones The telecom regulator withdrew the directive under which 50 per
by the local companies is declining, but that of feature-phones cent bandwidth of aamra technologies was blocked because of
is increasing - at a time when the country is heading towards non-payment of outstanding revenue of over Tk 33 crore. The
5G technology. According to data, 69.60% of the total handsets Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC)
manufactured in the country are feature-phones, while 30.40% withdraw the directive as the international internet gateway (IIG)
are smartphones. In June 2022, the production of smart-phones operator has recently cleared the dues. The BTRC in a letter said the
(4G and 5G) in the country was 880,000 units, while that of 2G or directive to block aamra technologies' 50 per cent bandwidth and
feature-phones was 2.15 million units. According to the Bangladesh to refrain from providing upstream connections and upgradation
Mobile Phone Importers Association, the mobile handset market of existing connections has been revoked. This withdrawal order
in the country is worth over Tk10,000 crore. The annual demand will be effective from today, a top official of the BTRC told The Daily
for mobile phone handsets is more than 35 million units, of which Star. However, he said aamra is yet to clear all the dues. Earlier on
11 million units are smartphones. As of January 2021, local July 18, the commission issued a letter directing the International
manufacturers supplied almost 80% of the country's mobile phone Terrestrial Cable to cap bandwidth supply to aamra technologies
requirement. The sector has generated more than 15,000 jobs. to 50 per cent. Aamra technologies supplies bandwidth to different
Currently, 15 companies have licenses to manufacture mobile clients, including Grameenphone, Robi Axiata and Banglalink.
handsets. Among these are - Walton Digi-tech Industries Ltd, Fair (July 27, 2022) thedailystar.ne
Electronics (brand: Samsung), Edison Industries (Symphony),
Alamin and Brothers (5 Star), Carlcare Technology BD Ltd (itel Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC)
and Tecno), Anira International (Yunstar), Best Taicool Enterprise recently received around BDT 2.8 Crores as fines from three
Ltd (Vivo), Grameen Distribution (Lava), Banglatrinic Technology mobile phone operators of the country over the allegations of
(DTC), Benley Electronic Enterprise (Oppo), Okay Mobile, and Mycel operating illegal VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol). A total of
Technology. To encourage local manufacturing and assembling of BDT 2,78,25,000 fines have been collected from telecom operators
smart-phones and to attract foreign investment, the government Robi, Grameenphone and Banglalink, said BTRC in a press release.
has taken steps through its "Made in Bangladesh" program. (August Robi paid BDT 2.10 Crore, Grameenphone paid BDT 52.5 lakh
24, 2022) www.dhakatribune.com and Banglalink BDT 5.75 lakh between July 12 to 14. On April
10, the operators were asked to pay the fines after a hearing by
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission the commission under sub-section 5 of section 65 of Bangladesh
conducted an operation in Rohingya camps and surrounding areas Telecommunication Act, 2001, over the use of SIMs (subscriber
at Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas of Cox's Bazar in collaboration identity module) used in illegal VoIPs.
with the local administration and Rapid Action Battalion. A BTRC (July 14, 2022) thedailystar.ne
inspection team, led by its enforcement and inspection director
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