Page 108 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Saudi Arabia’s CITC Reviews Telecom Services in Touristic Regions

Saudi Arabia’s Communications and
Information Technology Commission
(CITC) has carried out inspection tours
of retail shops and branches of telecom
companies in coordination with relevant
governmental authorities in Taif, Baha,
Asir, and Jazan. Since the Saudi Summer
Program 2021 was launched recently,
these regions have been witnessing a large
turnout of visiting citizens and residents,
leading to an increase in demand for
telecom services. CITC’s inspections aim
to measure the quality of coverage and
ensure the safety of frequencies. The
commission directed all telecom service
providers to raise the level of services in
these regions to cope with the increasing
demand. It also formed technical teams
to write daily reports on the performance
of networks in touristic areas. The
inspections are part of CITC’s efforts to and users’ experience, support the efforts national tourism and provide quality
improve the quality of telecom services of governmental authorities to encourage services in tourist and recreational sites.

Ethiopia Calls for Expressions of Interest in Ethio Telecom Stake Sale

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance interest in acquiring the stake.
(MoF) and the Public Enterprises Following the issuance of the EoI,
Holding and Administration Agency a Request for Proposal (RFP) will
(PEHAA) have announced the follow, with the timeline for this to
completion of a ‘key milestone’ be ‘communicated in due course,
in the partial privatization of the with the aim of completing the
country’s incumbent telco, Ethio transaction in an efficient and
Telecom. In a press statement the streamlined manner’. Deloitte
government bodies confirmed that, Consulting Limited has been
as part of a privatization process appointed as transaction advisor,
that began in 2018, the state is now the press statement also noted,
ready to release an Expression of with that company said to now be
Interest (EoI) for the sale of a 40% on the final stage of completing the
stake in Ethio Telecom. According preparatory work, which includes
to the MoF, the issuance of the EoI ‘business plan, financial, legal and
is scheduled for today (15 June), tax due diligence and business
with international investors to valuation following global best
be given until 14 July to confirm practice’.

108 JUN-AUG 2021