Page 132 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Eldin has been a frequent participant at Capacity’s conferences. Minister of Communication and Information Technology Amr
Last year at Capacity North Africa, in Cairo, he spoke about the Talaat has revealed the features of new rules for mobile customers
PEACE cable, linking Pakistan with east Africa and Europe. The who want to change their networks and keep their numbers. The
project was “one of the fastest cables I’ve ever worked on”, he told new rules will be put in place to cover the four networks operating
the conference. Nasr Eldin will prepare a work plan for the MCIT in the Egyptian market. Talaat said that his ministry started
and feasibility studies to attract mega data centers and internet work on setting the new rules aimed at stimulating competition
traffic exchange centers, said the ministry in its announcement between mobile companies. They will also allow customers
of his appointment. He will be responsible for implementing the to move between the four mobile operators. In an online press
state’s strategy, represented by MCIT, for transforming Egypt into conference on Sunday, Talaat said that the first of these rules will
a global data hub, an attraction and a host to the largest data see customers paying their last monthly bill with the previous
centers. That was a theme that came up a number of times at network. This is provided that the new network takes care of
2019 Capacity North Africa. Adel Hamed, CEO of Telecom Egypt, settling any financial dues with the operator he has left. The new
opened the conference by saying that Egypt is poised to become rules will come into effect as of Monday, and will apply to prepaid
the African hub and the gateway to Africa. Nasr Eldin worked for a and billed customers. He stressed that the new rules also require
decade for Telecom Egypt, finishing with a two-year spell as head that a transfer request submitted by the customer should be
of its international business unit before joining PCCW Global in implemented in one working day instead of the usual 15 working
March 2016. At the MCIT he will be responsible for “maintaining days. This will occur in line with a clear mechanism laid out by
Egypt’s strategic position as a safe path for submarine cables”, the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) to
said the ministry. He will support “the extension of the global monitor the submitted requests. Talat added that the old system
network to the neighbor countries” – again, a specific policy required users to obtain prior approval from the company they
outlined at Capacity’s Cairo conference. Nagui Anis Khalil, Vice wanted to convert to, which was difficult to achieve. Moreover,
President of Strategy and Planning at Fiber Misr, said at that customers had to pay all financial dues or an insurance amount,
event that Egypt “is the second country in the world in terms of and must use their SIMS card for at least one year to be eligible
submarine cable connections”, but “we need to transform from for converting to another operator. He explained that only one
just transit and build upon these cables. North Africa needs more out of five transfer requests was approved under the old system,
internet exchanges and data centers to keep content in Africa.” accounting for 20% of the total requests, while the rest were
(June 14, 2020) capacitymedia.com rejected. (June 8, 2020) dailynewssegypt.com

Iran

Authorities in Iran say they have been successful in curbing the August, with early September as the latest acceptable timeframe.
use of smuggled mobile phones following the introduction of a The launch is restricted to Tehran as nationwide coverage cannot
handset registration scheme. Trend News Agency says that an be achieved without spectrum currently held by Islamic Republic
estimated 12.5 million devices were smuggled into the country of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), a national TV network.
in 2018, costing the government USD350 million in lost taxes. Ali (July 4, 2020) developingtelecoms.com
Moayedi Khoramabadi, the head of Iran’s Headquarters to Combat
Smuggling of Goods and Foreign Exchange, declared: ‘Due to the The Minister of Communications and Information Technology
government actions regarding registration of mobile phones, all has requested the country’s largest cellular operator, state-
the processes related to the import of devices from customs backed Mobile Communication Company of Iran (MCI), to launch
release to sale have been monitored.’ (July 8, 2020) commsupdate.com a 5G network in parts of Tehran by early September. Mohammad-
Javad Azari Jahromi is quoted by IFP News as saying that he
Iran’s market leader, state-run MCI (Mobile Communication is expecting a 5G test lab to be in operation within two weeks
Company of Iran), has been given a deadline of early September and a live network to be up and running in at least five areas
to begin providing 5G coverage in Tehran. The country’s Minister of the capital in August or early September. A wider 5G launch
of Communications and Information Technology Mohammad- is currently impossible, however, because crucial spectrum is
Javad Azari Jahromi confirmed to IFP News that the operator was currently in the hands of national TV network Islamic Republic of
expected to have an operational 5G testing lab ready within the Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). MCI, known locally as Hamrah-e Avval
next two weeks. Jahromi added that the operator should push (first operator), is the largest cellco in the Middle East in terms of
to have 5G services ready in at least five districts of Tehran by subscribers. (June 30, 2020) commsupdate.com

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