Page 126 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

radio frequency spectrum licensing based on ITU guidelines will ‘satellite as a service’ mechanism to help set up satellite base
be made. With this, there will be faster coverage bringing down stations here to grant satellite as a service to multinational
overhead costs for firms. A faster turnaround time is needed to companies across the world from Sri Lanka. A cybersecurity law
attract high-quality services into the country, Mr. Senanayake will be enacted within the next few months which will enable a
added. He said that the TRC is in discussion with those providing Cyber Security Agency, he added. (June 13, 2021) sundaytimes.lk

South Sudan

Digitel has announced the official launch of commercial mobile solutions, such as IPTV and mobile financial services, are set to
services in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. The firm, which be launched in the future. Network coverage is available in the
will compete with established wireless operators Zain and MTN capital, as well as some rural areas including Maper and Pochala,
South Sudan, says it operates 2G, 3G and 4G networks. Both pre- with services set to be expanded to other remote locations such
paid and post-paid mobile voice and data services are available as Boma and Kuron Peace Village in the near future.
for personal and business customers. Additional products and (July 14, 2021) commsupdate.com

Syria

Syrian authorities have lifted the restrictions imposed on mobile export, and trade of telecommunications devices and electronic
provider SyriaTel, which was placed under judicial custody last circuits. The company’s articles provide for delivering cell phone
year, amidst an escalating row between the government and and related services, under the name Wafa Communications
Rami Makhlouf, SyriaTel’s richest man, a cousin of President (Telecom) Private Equity. Seven Syrian companies contributed to
Assad and the majority shareholder of SyriaTel. According founding WAFA Telecom. They are WAFA telecom, ABC l.l.c, IBC
to local news outlets the operator was released after it signed advanced, IBC technology, IBC telecom, tele space, tell you. All
agreements Ministry of Communication and Technology (MoCT) of these companies’ headquarters are located in Damascus. The
and the Syrian Telecom Regulatory Authority (SyTRA) to provide license decision explained that the company’s capital amounts to
financial guarantees to clear its alleged tax dues, totaling more only 10 billion Syrian pounds, distributed over 100 million shares
than SYP134 billion (USD261 million). Alongside the provision of where the value of each share is 100 pounds. The duration of
guarantees, a new board of directors was appointed to the telco, the contract is 22 years, starting from the date of the meeting
along with new senior officials. (July 27, 2021) commsupdate.com of the General Constituent Assembly, with the possibility of
extension to be approved by the ministry. The second clause of
The Syrian Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection has the new company’s rights stipulates that it is allowed to conclude
approved the articles of a company, which will provide services contracts of different types with companies, banks, governmental
as a third cell phone carrier in Syria. Local media published and non-governmental institutions. The clause also states that
pictures showing the license decision in favor of a company the company has the right to cooperate with natural persons,
called Wafa Telecom, a private equity firm based in Damascus. local or foreign legal persons, and provide payment or transfer
Wafa Telecom can open branches, warehouses, offices, and services for money and other cellular affairs. Syria currently has
appoint representatives inside or outside Syria. Although the two cellular telecommunications companies, Syriatel and MTN,
decision was signed on September 30, 2020, it was published which in 2014 obtained a license to operate for 20 years within
in the second part of issue 20 of the Official Gazette 2021. in the Syrian market. Their revenues exceed 404.5 billion pounds in
accordance with a license of the “Telecommunications and 2020.
Postal Regulatory Authority.” These activities include the import, (June 2, 2021) syrianobserver.com

Tunisia

Cayon Cloud Communications has enlisted Pareteum to deploy its MVNO brands in Tunisia. Cayon, which was initially established
‘Experience Cloud’ platform as it seeks to launch a number of new as a mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE), is a part of Tunisia-

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