Page 126 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

the field. The MWC 2022 brings together largest companies the latest and most innovative products and technologies in the
in the mobile industry, telecom service providers, regulators, mobile industry. The MWC also includes a ministerial program
policymakers, decision-makers, and experts in the field from more that brings together ministers, technology experts, and industry
than 180 countries around the world. The four-day event includes executives from around the world to debate related issues.
several sessions related to various topics such as the Fifth Additionally, on the sidelines of the MWC, the winners of the Global
Generation (5G) technology, cloud services, the Internet of things Mobile (GLOMO) Awards will be announced in a virtual ceremony,
(IoT), innovation ecosystems, and other topics. Also, it includes the GLOMO honors the most innovative and brilliant amongst the
an exhibition that has more than 1,800 exhibitors showcasing mobile and digital industry. (March 2, 2022) cra.gov.qa

Saudi Arabia

Governor of Communications and Information Technology 55.5 percent. According to the report, purchases from local and
Commission (CITC) Mohammed Al-Tamimi said the Saudi global shopping websites accounted for 95.2 percent and 51.4
telecommunications market is one of the fastest-growing percent, respectively, of the total purchases in 2021. Clothes
markets at the level of G20, occupying the sixth place among G20 and shoes were the most purchased goods online, accounting
countries by market value. The advancement was driven by the for nearly 83 percent. Google is the most-visited website in the
Vision 2030 incentives and its role in accelerating the pace of Kingdom, followed by YouTube and Facebook. The average mobile
growth and innovation. In a speech at the ICT Indicators Forum internet speed reached 169.52 megabytes, compared with 97.54
2022 in Riyadh, he said that the private sector invested SR2.7 megabytes a year earlier. The average fixed-line internet speed
for every one Riyal provided by the government in the field of reached 96.36 megabytes, compared with 76.85 megabytes a
communications and information technology Al-Tamimi pointed year earlier. (April 3, 2022) saudigazette.com.sa
out that this reflects the success of the partnership between
the private and public sectors in the field. “The Kingdom has Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology
also achieved the highest level of progress and achievement, Commission (CITC) has extended the deadline for comments on
through the amount of frequency spectrum allocated to mobile its plans to award 450MHz frequencies for the establishment of
communication services globally, thus ranking second among the broadband specialized networks for enterprises (PMR auction).
G20 countries.” He highlighted the strength of the infrastructure Interested parties are now asked to comment on coverage
of the telecommunications sector in the Kingdom, as the average obligations, frequency fees and evaluation criteria of applicants
mobile internet speed reached 179.9 Mbps by the end of 2021, by 7 April 2022; the deadline for spectrum applications is currently
an increase of 1,781 percent, while the global average reached slated for 19 May. Under the CITC’s plan, a total of 2×5MHz
71.3 Mbps. The coverage of the fiber-optic network reached more of spectrum in the 450MHz band will be assigned (451MHz-
than of 3.5 million homes, he added. Al-Tamimi also stated that 456MHz/461MHz-466MHz); the license will be valid for 20 years
the frequency spectrum allocated to mobile communications (from 2023 to 2043) and will be subject to an annual license fee of
services exceeded 1,110 (IMT) MHz, with the percentage of SAR9 million (USD2.4 million). (March 18, 2022) commsupdate.com
coverage of the Internet of things technology for urban areas
reaching 95 percent. The sector is working on adopting innovative The Communications and Information Technology Commission
experiences, as the first experiment in the world to provide (CITC) has renewed its call to the public for their input on its Digital
coverage of 5G networks via high-altitude platforms (5G HAPS) Content Planforms Regulation draft document. After completing
was successfully conducted. Moreover, the latest generation of its research and analysis in the first public consultation round
WiFi-6e technologies was launched to become the first country to solicit feedback, CITC has added the analysis results to an
in the world in terms of total frequency spectrum, the governor updated version of the draft document. Through this request,
added. (April 3, 2022) saudigazette.com.sa the Commission seeks to raise the level of regulatory maturity
for digital content platforms through a clear and transparent
The percentage of internet penetration in Saudi Arabia reached regulatory framework, taking into account the interest of
more than 98 percent at the end of 2021, according to a new report. stakeholders and users. The document is part of CITC’s initiative
The Communications and Information Technology Commission to develop its licensing mechanism for Digital Content Platforms
(CITC) released recently its report on the use and penetration in coordination with the General Commission for Audiovisual
of internet in Saudi Arabia (Meqyas) for 2021. Madinah came Media and other relevant authorities. It aims to create a regulatory
first in terms of internet penetration with 99.1 percent, followed framework for digital content platforms in line with international
by Riyadh and Hail with 98.8 percent. The report showed that practices and support its development. The Commission also
the purchase of goods and services topped the use of internet seeks to encourage the expansion and growth of media, support
in the Kingdom in 2021, with more than 70 percent, followed entrepreneurs, attract investment and protect users.
by the download of programs and applications with around 63 (March 7, 2022) citc.gov.sa
percent, then the download of games, movies and photos with

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