Page 113 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

field of telecommunications regulation and market governance. Communications Entity, in presence of Gonzalo Urriolabeitia, the
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Engineer Ambassador of Argentina to Egypt. Both parties had an extensive
Hossam El-Gamal, CEO of the NTRA, and Rosen Russell, President meeting where mutual cooperation and expertise-exchange
of the US Federal Communications Commission. The Minister of mechanisms in terms of telecom regulation, as well as telecom
Communications held a meeting with Rosen Russell, Chairperson service governance across the market, were discussed. Moreover,
of the US Federal Communications Commission, and his both sides reviewed joint cooperation opportunities in addition to
accompanying delegation. Mechanisms for boosting cooperation mutual collaboration programs pertaining to training courses and
and exchanging experiences between Egypt and the United States leveraging human capacities. Multiple topics of mutual interest
of America in the field of regulating the telecommunications sector were also tackled during the meeting, such as the mechanisms to
and its new technologies were discussed. He also met with Hiroshi disseminate and provide telecom services via the Universal Service
Yoshida, Deputy Minister of Communications and Home Affairs of Fund (USF), and how to embark on Egypt’s leading experience in
Japan. The meeting discussed ways to enhance joint cooperation such field. The role of USF within the Presidential Initiative “Decent
between Egypt and Japan in a number of areas of communication Life” to leverage and improve telecom networks’ quality all over
and information technology. The meeting discussed mechanisms Egypt’s countryside was further discussed. Moreover, both sides
for activating cooperation between Egypt and Japan in the field of discussed topics of radio spectrum, technical resources and how to
communications and information technology within the framework ideally utilize such resources, as well as cooperation methods with
of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two respect to user-right protection and reinforcing communication
countries during the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister to Egypt with users. In addition, the interactive services of My NTRA App.
last April, especially related to modern technologies, especially were also reviewed, especially after it was selected among the top
artificial intelligence, cyber security, digital capacity building, data 5 projects worldwide in terms of digital government, at the World
centers, outsourcing centers, and 5 and 6G technologies. Summit on the Information Society Forum (WSIS) subordinate
(June 7, 2023) www.zawya.com to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Both sides
also explored cooperation, expertise-exchange and training
Hossam El-Gamal, the Executive Director of the National Telecom opportunities in digital services and how to ideally benefit from
Regulatory Authority of Egypt (NTRA), received a high-ranking the experts of NTRA’s Training Center, which has been recently
delegation from the National Communications Entity of Argentina accredited by the ITU Academy as an authorized international
headed by Mr. Claudio Ambrosini, the President of Argentina’s center. (June 4, 2023) www.dailynewsegypt.com

Iran

The Iranian government has earmarked USD20 million to continue Earlier reports suggested that around two million households had
its drive to pass millions of households with fiber-to-the-home access to FTTH by last November. The government is hoping to
(FTTH) infrastructure. A report from PressTV cites ICT Minister oversee the rollout of minimum 25Mbps broadband speeds to 80%
Issa Zarepour as saying that ten million premises are expected to of households and 100% of businesses by 2025.
be covered by the end of Iran’s current calendar year in March 2024. (May 15, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

Iraq

Iraqi mobile provider Korek Telecom has been ordered to pay logistics firm Agility, a former shareholder in Korek, announced in
USD800 million to settle a dispute over unpaid dues, industry March that an international arbitration court had ruled in its favor
watchdog the Communications and Media Commission (CMC) against Korek and its controlling shareholder, awarding two of
confirmed. CMC CEO Ali Al-Moaed was quoted as saying that Agility’s affiliates damages totaling USD1.65 billion. The dispute
the amount covers ‘fees of licenses and equipment used by the centered on allegations of fraud and corruption relating to the
company as well as other dues that have not been paid for years. expropriation of Agility’s investment in Korek Telecom.
The official added that the regulator would resort to other legal (May 2, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
procedures if Korek failed to pay its obligations. The Kuwaiti

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