Page 133 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Iraq

The Iraqi Cabinet has decided to renew the licenses of the Media Commission (CMC) and the Ministry of Communications
nation’s mobile providers for a further five years, on the condition (MoC) have yet to issue statements on the matter. As noted by
that the cellcos clear half of their outstanding debts and commit TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, the 2G and 3G mobile
to launching 4G services by early 2021. The plan was published spectrum licenses held by Iraq’s trio of mobile providers – Zain
on the government’s website as part of a summary of the Iraq, Asiacell and Korek Telecom – are all due to expire in 2022.
decisions made at a cabinet meeting but no further details were (July 9, 2020) commsupdate.com
forthcoming. Regulatory authorities the Communications and

Jordan

Jordanian watchdog the Telecommunication Regulatory country’s shutdowns, with the TRC noting that data traffic grew
Commission (TRC) has claimed that its measures to maintain by 8% during the period whilst download speeds increased by as
service quality during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a ‘significant much as 73%. The TRC added that it used dynamic monitoring
improvement’ in internet access speeds for users. According to systems to measure and assess the impact of granting additional
the regulator average download speeds for mobile users increased spectrum on key performance indicators throughout the period.
by 54% during the period from the start of March to the end of In addition to the provision of additional spectrum resources for
May as a result of its decision to allow providers to temporarily cellcos, the TRC notes that following the arrival of COVID-19 in
utilize additional spectrum for free – the TRC also claimed Jordan it formed an emergency committee with senior members
that it was the first regulatory body in the world to implement of the authority and the CTOs of network operators to address
such measures. The additional spectrum allowed operators to specific challenges relating to ICT services that might arise during
cope with the additional stresses on their networks during the the crisis. (June 15, 2020) commsupdate.com

Kuwait

Kuwait ranked 37th globally and 5th in the Arab world on internet areas negatively impact the available capacities and contributes
speed with an average speed of 42.44 Mbps, according to the to slowing down the Internet speed compared to the modern
monthly report issued by the “speed test” website released last system in the new regions. He pointed out that Kuwait is the
month. Report added that UAE ranked second in the world and least expensive country in terms of internet services compared
first in the Arab world with an internet speed of 99.67 MB per to other Gulf countries. Nevertheless, the services are almost
second, and Qatar came fourth globally and second in the Arab equal, whether in the business sector or individuals. He stressed
world with Internet speed of 89.11 MB per second. In this context, that Kuwait is considered in the advanced quarter and ranks
Information Technology expert Engineer Qusay Al-Shatti stressed among countries with excellent infrastructure and similar to the
in a special statement that Kuwait, in its current position, finds countries that precede it in ranking. “I recommend concerned
itself in a gap between the three frontline Gulf states that precede officials in the sector to continue working to develop the services
it at the speed of the Internet due to a major difference in speeds, provided and try to cover the entire Kuwait with modern services
which is up to almost a double, pointing out that Kuwait has made as much as possible.” Returning to the report of the “speed test”
good steps in developing its infrastructure by defining 5G service website, Saudi Arabia ranked tenth globally and third in the Arab
at the level of the three telecom operators in Kuwait. Al-Shatti world with speed of 62.33 MB per second, Lebanon came fourth in
added the 5G service does not cover all regions in Kuwait until the Arab world and 34th globally with an internet speed of 44.65
now and needs further development, which is normal, especially megabytes per second. It is worth noting that South Korea ranked
as the service has not completed two years since its entry to first with internet speed of 100.22 MB per second, followed by the
Kuwait. He pointed out that the link for home internet service UAE, then China ranked third globally with speed of 97.10 MB per
is still through copper networks, especially in the old areas. It second.
does not depend on the optical fiber system except in the new (June 23, 2020) arabtimesonline.com

133 JUNE-JULY 2020