Page 150 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The deployment of these networks will provide cutting-edge reached 271.66 Mbit/s. which is 15% higher than last year, while
technologies of IoT and broadband communications, which will upload speeds of mobile internet reached 35.2 Mbit/s, 15% higher
contribute to enhance digital transformation around the world. than last year in Makkah on July 8. With extensive preparations
The forum will include a global research competition on NTN from CITC, pilgrims have consumed 3.16K TB via telecom networks
and will discuss the most prominent services provided via Non- in Makkah City, this is the equivalent of watching 1.29M hours of
Terrestrial Networks, and their regulatory and scientific aspects. HD video clips, the Commission reported. Statistics released by
In addition, it highlights CITC recent technology trials in the field CITC also showed that the average daily consumption per user
of NTN and its role in the adoption of 6G technology and enabling was 805.92 MB/user, exceeding 3 times the world’s average
an environmentally friendly and sustainable telecommunications consumption of around 200 MB/user. And the most used apps
infrastructure. (July 28, 2022) citc.gov.sa are YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram, the
Commission reported. On top of the 12.96 million local calls, 1.41
The Communications & Information Technology Commission million international calls were made, with a total success rate
(CITC), has confirmed that the download speed of mobile internet exceeding 98%. (July 9, 2022) citc.gov.sa

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s 5G rollouts are likely to lag behind the regional peers, due 5G would be awarded within the following year, the Global System
to the obstacles formed by the on-going economic crisis, uncertain for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) pointed out that
political environment and recent hike in the Telecommunications the plans of spectrum awards were mentioned in focusing on
Levy imposed on the operators. Although the 5G rollouts were taxation and revenue generation. Meanwhile, the TRCSL did launch
earlier expected to take place in the country this year and next a consultation on its spectrum licensing framework in mid-2021
year, with the leading telco operators moving for commercial and submissions from industry members were made with taking
deployment, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission steps to clear the spectrum along with discussions to release the
of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) is yet to hold to a spectrum auction, which 700 MHz spectrum to operators. However, the progress of these
would include the 5G-capable spectrum. “Mobitel plans to invest initiatives is yet to be publicized. It is widely expected that the
US $ 100 million in its 5G networks and estimates US $ 15 million 3500 MHz band spectrum is to be awarded for 5G deployment.
on 5G spectrum licenses. Meanwhile, Dialog claims to be the first However, the GSMA noted that the TRCSL is yet to announce an
operator in South Asia to trial a 5G standalone network. However, award mechanism, lot sizes or fees, with the consultations of
Sri Lanka’s major economic crisis, uncertain political situation and telecom operators. In addition, OpenSignal pointed out that more
an increase in the Telecommunications Levy from 11.25 percent to mobile spectrum remains crucial for improving mobile network
15 percent for operators are likely to hamper the future 5G rollouts quality in Sri Lanka, as experienced during the pandemic-related
in Sri Lanka,” leading mobile analytics firm OpenSignal said in its lockdown period. Theretofore, it said the TRCSL should ensure
latest Mobile Network Experience Report. Meanwhile, the other that the mobile operators are given sufficient spectrum to mobile
regional countries, including India, are moving ahead to rollout services in order to deliver a strong 4G and 5G experience and
5G services within the next few months. Although the previous meet the growing appetite for mobile internet usage in the country.
government in its 2021 budget announced that the spectrum for (August 4, 2022) www.dailymirror.lk

Turkey

5G Launch was held at Istanbul Airport. Speaking at the opening the 5G signal at the airport have been completed, Karaismailoğul
of the program, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil said, “Today, we will see the stage Turkey has reached in 5G at
Karaismailoğlu said that Turkey's 5G journey has begun. 3 GSM the stands set up by our domestic technology companies. With
operators serving in Turkey offered 5G speed to the service of the low level of 5G supported devices in our country and the
passengers for the first time with the introductory ceremony increase in devices supporting 5G, citizens' benefit from 5G will
attended by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil increase. Significant strides have been made so far. We will take
Karaismailoğlu. Providing information about the works related this road with bigger steps. We will increase our investments to
to 5G, Minister İsmailoğlu said, “We are at Istanbul Airport. It has accelerate the transition to 5G. We have provided and will continue
been a project that will give 25 billion Euros of rent to the state by to provide the necessary support with the Ministry and related
investing 10 million liras in an area of 75 million square meters. institutions. Operators also need to demonstrate stability. In the
There is no award that Istanbul Airport did not receive, no record that first investment period of 4.5G, we see that the domestic rate of
it did not break," he said. Noting that the necessary preparations for 1 percent has exceeded 33 percent. Nationalization of critical

150 JULY-AUGUST 2022