Page 120 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Egypt

Egypt, represented by the Ministry of Communications and Executive President of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority
Information Technology (MCIT), is remotely participating (NTRA) for a term of two years in succession of Eng. Mostafa
in the three Web Dialogues organized by the International Abdel Wahed, who has been Acting NTRA Executive President
Telecommunication Union (ITU) in preparation of the 25th meeting since July 2015. For his over 20 years of experience in ICT,
of the Telecommunication Development Advisory Group (TDAG), management, integrated future technologies, innovation and
on March 24-26. This includes TDAG Web Dialogue on the World entrepreneurship areas, Eng. El-Gamal was appointed Assistant
Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC), TDAG Web Minister for Networks and ICT Infrastructure at the Ministry of
Dialogue on the new ITU index, and TDAG Web Dialogue on the Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) in January
Regional Presence. This first provides the opportunity to delve 2019. He has a proven track record in planning, implementing and
into four main topics revolving around the WTDC. The second following up on infrastructure and digital transformation projects
presents progress in the development of the new ITU composite in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Previously, El-Gamal
index and provides an opportunity for ITU Member States to raise held different leading positions in major international companies,
questions and receive clarifications. Council-19 instructed the among which was Huawei Vice President for Strategy, Marketing
Secretary-General to recruit an independent external management and Solution Sales-Egypt; the Regional Director of Business and
consultancy to perform a comprehensive programmatic, strategic Network Consulting Department at Huawei Technologies, North
and financial assessment and review of ITU’s regional presence. Africa. Prior to joining Huawei, Eng. Hossam El-Gamal served as
The third Web Dialogue provides an overview of the work done the Acting CTO and Capital Project Management Officer at MTN-
up until now and summarizes some key findings. It is worth Yemen, and was a member of MTN Strategic Development Team-
mentioning that TDAG reviews priorities, strategies, operations MENA, where he managed to develop overall strategies for the
and financial matters of the ITU Telecommunication Development technology sections, to be aligned with the organization strategic
Sector (ITU-D). It convenes in the interval between the WTDCs objectives. Before MTN, he served as a telecom engineer in the
to advise the Director of the Telecommunication Development United Nations - Egypt. Eng. Hossam El-Gamal obtained a B.Sc.
Bureau (BDT) on the implementation of the WTDC Action Plan, in Engineering from Alexandria University, in 1998. He received
including issues relating to the budget and the operational plan of his MBA degree from Robert Kennedy College (RKC), Switzerland,
the Sector. TDAG meets once every year. in 2014. He completed the Global Advancement Program (GAP)
(March 24, 2020) mcit.gov.eg at University of Pretoria, GIBS Institute, in South Africa in 2010.
In 2009, he received a PMP® certification from the Project
The Prime Minister, has appointed Eng. Hossam El-Gamal Management Institute (PMI) in USA. (March 8, 2020) tra.gov.eg

Jordan

The meeting of the Crisis Cell that was formed by the Authority to to issue permits for 20 workers per company to 24 hours, when
follow developments in the telecommunications sector during the needed, to ensure that the telecommunications networks are fully
exceptional circumstances of the Kingdom and in the presence of functional. Jabour also indicated that companies have called
representatives of telecommunications companies Zain, Orange, for the necessity of exploring an appropriate mechanism that
security, was held to discuss all matters or problems facing enables citizens to pay their financial dues, as Jabour promised
telecommunications companies during this stage. The Chairman that this issue be discussed with all parties concerned to reach
of the Board of Commissioners, Dr. Eng. Ghazi Al Jabour, said that logical solutions in a way that guarantees everyone’s interest.
the Authority had held this meeting to review all the problems Jabour also confirmed that the technical reports submitted by
and difficulties facing telecommunications companies during the companies to the authority reflected the absence of problems
this crisis and work to solve them, and we mention from them in the communication networks in general, and these reports
the need of companies to obtain permits for a number of their were consistent with the results of the automated systems of
employees so that they can complete the expansion and increase monitoring the communication networks, and the citizens focused
the capacity of The companies after the authority granted them on their use of mobile communication networks on Facebook
new frequency capacities to improve the performance of networks videos, which ranged from 11.23% to 28%, YouTube has ranged
during the crisis, in addition to repairing any malfunctions that from 20% to 22.27%, WhatsApp has ranged between 4.08% to 6%,
may occur in the infrastructure and mechanisms of companies, as and Netflix has increased by between 1.93% and 2% during this
the authority coordinated with the crisis center and immediately crisis. (March 28, 2020) trc.gov.jo

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