Page 71 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Egyptian Operators Sign Transmission and Interconnection Deals

Telecom Egypt and Etisalat Misr, the value of EGP 2bn (around $125 million). the pandemic lockdown-led boost in
Egyptian subsidiary of the Etisalat Group, The two companies have also signed a interest usage lately: “Telecom Egypt
have announced the signing of transmission mobile-to-fixed termination agreement. has heavily invested in its infrastructure
and mobile-to-fixed interconnection While this is the first commercial to accommodate the significant and
deals, described as two first-of-their- arrangement on mobile-to-fixed between ongoing increase in data usage in Egypt.”
kind agreements. In the first deal, Etisalat Telecom Egypt and Etisalat Misr, it is said Hazem Metwally, chief executive officer
Misr has signed a long-term agreement to be the second such agreement for of Etisalat Misr, added: “The development
that includes an annual commitment Telecom Egypt in the Egyptian market. of events across the world makes
to Telecom Egypt’s infrastructure and Adel Hamed, managing director and telecommunications companies eager to
transmission services. The agreement, chief executive officer of Telecom Egypt, cope with the required changes and, during
say the partners, will enable Etisalat Misr suggested that the agreements would the next stage, agreements like the ones
to continue delivering premium offers and allow the company to further monetize we have signed today will be reflected
mobile telecommunications services to infrastructure investments that serve all in the products and services that we will
its customers in the Egyptian market. It local telecommunications companies offer our customers for the first time in the
extends for three and a half years with a total and added, apparently touching on Egyptian market.”

Oman Picks Oracle Managed Cloud for Digitalization

Oman Information Technology and
Communications Group (OITCG) has
signed an agreement with Oracle cloud
data services company to build and provide
a cloud infrastructure “Cloud@Customer”
system. The step comes after the OITCG
studied the best solutions offered by major
international cloud services firms to woo
them into the setting up and operation of
an integrated set of information technology
built on an advanced cloud database, with
full control over the infrastructure and data
within the Sultanate as a measure to realize
digital sovereignty. Eng. Said bin Abdullah
al-Mantheri, CEO of OITCG, said that Oracle
was selected after in-depth survey of most
cyber service operators, noting that Oman project so that they could keep pace with communications firm. Its operation
will be the first country in the world to use technological and technical progress in under one roof will help in performance
such an Oracle cloud@customer system e-services and set up platforms capable governance. It will also work to achieve
enhanced with the best features that of hosting artificial intelligence (AI) unified economic and investment goals
respond to future needs at suitable cost- technologies like blockchains and utilize that support digital economy and AI,
effective rates that are commensurate to cloud@customer services to speed up as well as providing the educational
the volume of market requirements in the digital transformation (build provider system and government institutions with
Sultanate. The Ministry of Technology and infrastructure, storage units, superfast smart apps. The signing ceremony was
Communications and OITCG will undertake data and impeccable data security). OITCG attended by Sayyid Kamil bin Fahd al-Said,
the responsibility of stimulating demand was established in 2019 and its strategies Assistant to Secretary General of the Office
and urging establishments to change and were designed to fit with Oman Vision 2040 of Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of
benefit from cloud services instead of and strategies of Ministry of Technology Ministers, Board Chairman of OITCG, and
continuing to utilize traditional systems, and Communications. It recently received Abdussalam al-Murshidi, Chairman of
Eng. al-Mantheri explained. He added that the stake of Oman Investment Authority Oman Investment Authority.
OITCG will work to support government in Oman Techology Fund and Oman
and private establishments through the Broadband, in addition to cyberspace

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