Page 121 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

is in addition to the establishment of four government agencies IT. He said that Bahrain is partnering with the private sector to
directly on Cloud computing platforms. The transfer of more than invest in further developing its Cloud computing capabilities.
70% of government operations to the Cloud has helped to reduce Instead of focusing on physical infrastructure, this is freeing up
operating costs and the time needed for government projects by resources for the Kingdom to improve skills and competencies,
60 to 80%. He highlighted the role of the Bahrain Open Data Portal, and optimizing the use of resources.
which provides data to investors in a range of sectors, including (March 31, 2022) tradearabia.com

Bangladesh

Operators in Bangladesh spent around BDT106.4 billion ($1.2 Teletalk 55.2MHz. The Business Standard quoted Grameenphone
billion) to secure spectrum in the 2.3GHz and 2.6GHz bands as CEO Yasir Azman as noting while 4G technology will continue to
they seek to improve existing 4G services and prepare the way for be the primary technology in Bangladesh, the operators will work
5G networks. The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory with the government to identify relevant 5G use cases for trials
Commission (BRTC) auctioned ten 10MHz blocks in the 2.3GHz in the coming months. Only last year, the four operators spent
band and 12 10MHz blocks in the 2.6GHz band. Around 30MHz $898.2 million to secure spectrum in the 1800MHz and 2100MHz
remained unsold. Grameenphone and Robi Axiata each acquired bands to expand their limited 4G holdings. In December 2021,
the maximum amount of 60MHz in the 2.6GHz band. The Business Huawei and Nokia partnered Teletalk for the deployment of the
Standard reported the operators both paid around BDT33.6 billion nation’s first 5G network in limited areas of Dhaka.
for the frequencies. State-owned operator Teletalk acquired (March 31, 2022) mobileworldlive.com
30MHz and Banglalink 40MHz in the 2.3GHz band, with the former
paying around BDT16.8 billion and the latter around BDT22.4 The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
billion. The spectrum licenses have 15-year terms, with operators (BTRC) has selected Rohde & Schwarz mobile network testing
required to pay 10 per cent within 60 days and the remainder in solutions to assess and benchmark the performance, coverage
equal instalments over nine years. Grameenphone increased its and capacity of the country’s mobile network operators. With
total spectrum assets to 107.4MHz, while Robi Axiata now has the goal of improving the quality of service (QoS) and quality
104MHz, Banglalink 80MHz and Teletalk 55.2MHz. The Business of experience (QoE) for end users, the test equipment allows
Standard quoted Grameenphone CEO Yasir Azman as noting BTRC officials to follow an internationally standardized and fully
while 4G technology will continue to be the primary technology transparent process based on the European Telecommunications
in Bangladesh, the operators will work with the government to Standards Institute (ETSI). A huge increase in network traffic
identify relevant 5G use cases for trials in the coming months. and demand has impacted the QoS and QoE of certain service
Only last year, the four operators spent $898.2 million to secure providers in Bangladesh. To keep subscribers satisfied and
spectrum in the 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands to expand their encourage network operators to invest in their infrastructure, the
limited 4G holdings. In December 2021, Huawei and Nokia Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has
partnered Teletalk for the deployment of the nation’s first 5G initiated a campaign to transparently benchmark and assess
network in limited areas of Dhaka. (April 1, 2022) mobileworldlive.com operator performance. BTRC has selected Rohde & Schwarz
for the installation, commissioning and supply of the mobile
Operators in Bangladesh spent around BDT106.4 billion ($1.2 network benchmarking system. The contract includes modular
billion) to secure spectrum in the 2.3GHz and 2.6GHz bands Benchmarker II systems to be set up in vehicles and R&S
as they seek to improve existing 4G services and prepare the Freerider 4 backpacks for in-field data collection. In addition,
way for 5G networks. The Bangladesh Telecommunications the SmartMonitor solution supports remote data collection
Regulatory Commission (BRTC) auctioned ten 10MHz blocks management and visualization, and SmartAnalytics provides
in the 2.3GHz band and 12 10MHz blocks in the 2.6GHz band. deep data analytics and reporting based on the QoE centric
Around 30MHz remained unsold. Grameenphone and Robi Axiata network performance score (NPS). Rohde & Schwarz, with its
each acquired the maximum amount of 60MHz in the 2.6GHz portfolio of network benchmarking solutions, coined the NPS, a
band. The Business Standard reported the operators both paid methodology ratified by ETSI and documented in ETSI TR 103 559
around BDT33.6 billion for the frequencies. State-owned operator to characterize the overall network performance for a defined key
Teletalk acquired 30MHz and Banglalink 40MHz in the 2.3GHz performance indicator (KPI). Dr. Shamsuzzoha, Deputy Director of
band, with the former paying around BDT16.8 billion and the BTRC, says, “We are confident that the Rohde & Schwarz products,
latter around BDT22.4 billion. The spectrum licenses have 15- solutions and services will give us valuable insights into the
year terms, with operators required to pay 10 per cent within 60 performance of each mobile network operator and increase the
days and the remainder in equal instalments over nine years. overall mobile network quality in Bangladesh.”
Grameenphone increased its total spectrum assets to 107.4MHz, (March 3, 2022) vanillaplus.com
while Robi Axiata now has 104MHz, Banglalink 80MHz and

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