Page 106 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATESATORY & POLICY UPDATES
REGUL SAMENA TRENDS

A SNAPSHOT OF REGULATORY ACTIVITIES

IN THE SAMENA REGION

Afghanistan

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology total of AFN365 million (USD4.2 million) and cover the deployment
(MCIT) has signed contracts with cellcos MTN Afghanistan and of mobile networks in 33 remote areas of the Kandahar, Nuristan,
Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC) to extend Badakhshan, Uruzgan, Zabul, Kunar, Nangarhar and Kabul
coverage to unserved communities. The contracts are worth a provinces. (June 23, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

Algeria

Algeria’s Minister of Post and Telecommunications Karim Bibi- population – lacking telecoms network coverage, prompting a call
Triki has announced details of government objectives to improve for service provider tenders and the signing of a ministerial decree
telecoms network coverage in border areas and ten administrative related to the planned connection of these sites under a universal
districts in the south of the country which were recently given service program. The Minister has this week visited several
the status of provinces (wilayas). Mr. Bibi-Triki highlighted that border locations where new 4G mobile base stations have been
a survey carried out in the second half of 2022 identified 1,400 commissioned, including new network sites provided by state-
settlements or geographical areas – each with less than 2,000 backed Algerie Telecom Mobile (Mobilis). (June 27, 2023) www.arpt.dz

Bahrain

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) Bahrain is stated “Young people are more vulnerable to online threats during Draft
working to raise awareness among young people, their parents, the summer vacation. It is crucial for us to safeguard users'
and teachers of potential online dangers, including cyberbullying, security and online privacy, especially considering the growing
and ways they can minimize risk. The TRA’s Online Safety Initiative use of smartphones and social media amongst young people.
builds on the successful Cyber Safety program conducted in Educational institutions play a significant role in raising student
November 2022 to further encourage responsible ICT usage. The awareness about the potential threats and risks associated with
TRA, in collaboration with the International Telecommunication the use of the Internet. Developing a cyberbullying prevention
Union's (ITU) Global Program on Child Online Protection, has program, in accordance with society's cultural characteristics and
worked closely to highlight the importance of this key issue. The education system, is an influential factor in the effectiveness of
Child Online Protection training sessions, aimed at enlightening the program. Students, administrations, parents, and community
educators and youth organizations on how to safeguard children members must be aware of and educated about cyberbullying
and educate them about their online rights, were held with the to curb this pressing issue.” She added “As part of the Cyber
participation of over 300 educators across the Kingdom of Bahrain Safety Program, additional training sessions targeting youths of
from both private and public schools. The program gave educators different age groups will be conducted in the new academic year
deeper insight into online risks and how to create a safer online to continually raise awareness of online safety.”
school experience for students. Moreover, it assisted educators (August 7, 2023) www.tra.org.bh
in identifying the types of threats that children encounter when
exploring the digital world, such as cyberbullying, misinformation, The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), in
and inappropriate content. Educators also discovered preventive collaboration with the Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination
measures to mitigate potential online threats and built on their Centre (RIP E NCC), held a three-day capacity-building workshop in
knowledge of how to respond to and disclose an issue if students the Kingdom of Bahrain on the Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6)
are harmed online. Acting Manager of Online Safety, May Alghatam, and BGP “Border gateway protocol” operations and security. The

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