Page 75 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2022

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Saudi Arabia Chairs International Telecom Meeting on Internet Services

Saudi Arabia recently chaired an influential Authority, Majed Al-Mazyad, and attended team, headed by Saudi Arabia, in helping
global telecom working group examining by ITU Secretary General, Houlin Zhao, his to strengthen joint cooperation between
issues related to internet services and Deputy Malcolm Johnson, Union Sector member states to raise the efficiency of
technologies and their usage around Managers, and representatives of member internet use around the world. The team
the world. Since its formation in 2009, states. During a review of a final report conducted 10 international consultations
the Kingdom has presided over the on internet and technology services, Al- on more than 20 topics on internet-
International Telecommunication Union’s Mazyad highlighted recommendations related public policy issues and discussed
council working group meeting on internet- linked to enhancing online security, the in excess of 400 working papers from
related public policy issues. Held in Geneva, use of new and emerging international government agencies, the private sector,
the meeting was headed by Governor technologies, and recent trends. The report civil society, and academia from more than
of the Saudi National Cybersecurity also noted the achievements of a specialist 50 countries.

CITC Launches Phase II of Saudi Domain Name Registrars Accreditation

The Communications and Information domain names. For those seeking to
Technology Commission (CITC) of Saudi become accredited Registrars, CITC
Arabia launches the second phase of the encourages those seeking the position to
Registrar Accreditation for Saudi Domain fill the information required on the website:
Names, which aims to enable Saudi www.nic.sa, as the application period is
companies operating in the IT sector to open and not limited in time. It is worth
invest in Saudi domain names and related noting that the first phase resulted in the
services, which takes effect on Sunday, accreditation of several Registrars to
March 6, 2022. The Commission seeks to provide Saudi domain name registration
enhance the Saudi domain name services services, such as The Arabian Internet and
industry through accredited Registrars and Communications Services Co. (Solutions
allocated national companies specialized by STC), NourNet, Sahara Net, Raqmiyat
in Internet services and domain names, LLC, and Hawsabah.
as well as increase the use of Saudi

Telenor Completes Myanmar Exit

Telenor finalized the sale of its unit in “reclassification of accumulated losses” at a time of an uncertain political situation
Myanmar to M1 Group for $105 million and on the division for items it had previously in the country, though questions on the
indicated it would book additional losses accounted for. It added although the initial likelihood of its completion were raised
related to the now divested business in its sum from the sale would be added to its several times in media, as authorities
Q1 financial results. The operator group balance sheet in its upcoming results: “Due reportedly wanted a local buyer to take
has already received $50 million for the to the uncertain situation in Myanmar, the charge of the business. The deal was
business with the remainder to be paid over deferred payment will not be recognized in eventually cleared earlier this month on
installments over the next five years. In its the accounts at closing.” The company is the condition a Myanmar-based partner
statement, Telenor indicated it would book due to report its Q1 results in May. Telenor was lined up by Lebanon-based M1 Group
a financial hit in its Q1 2022 results on the announced the proposed sale in July 2021 post-closing.

3G/4G Users Reach 111 Million in Pakistan

The number of 3G and 4G service users in Pakistan has Pakistan has around 192 million mobile phone users. The number
significantly increased and reached 111 million by end of February of broadband subscribers reached 114 million in February while
2022. As per detail available on the official site of the PTA website, the broadband penetration was recorded at 52.02 percent.

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