Page 117 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Saudi Arabia

The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) and frequency bands for broadcasting services. Moreover, CST
invites the public to submit their input on the “Regulations of is keen on supporting the broadcasting sector’s development by
Radio Spectrum Use for Broadcasting Services” document. The enhancing the utilization of its allocated spectrum and following
regulations are aimed to regulate the use of radio spectrum for the best global practices. Therefore, CST developed this regulatory
audio and television broadcasting, foster its emerging technologies, document to ensure spectrum availability for broadcasting
and increase the efficiency of spectrum use in the broadcasting services, alignment with the international standards to protect
services. Additionally, CST highlights that the document covers broadcasting applications from harmful interference and promote
the main regulatory aspects of spectrum use in broadcasting innovative spectrum management and emerging technologies.
services. Most notably, the regulations include the spectrum (May 17, 2023) www.cst.gov.sa
licensing process, international obligations, technical conditions

Sri Lanka

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRCSL) an update on the long-running saga to introduce fixed number
has revealed that the country’s recently appointed central portability (FNP) and mobile number portability (MNP), when he
clearinghouse, Lanka Number Portability Services (LNPS), has revealed that a new company ‘Lanka Portability’ had been created
opened the tender process for ‘the supply, installation, testing, to act as the central company to handle it, and that all domestic
and commission’ of number portability (NP) on the island. Back in service providers have a stake in it.
November 2022 Bharti Airtel Lanka CEO Ashish Chandra provided (May 4, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

Tunisia

Tunisia is planning for the commercial launch of 5G services in fast connectivity, reduced latency and increased capacity, thus
2024 and will set out a detailed roadmap for the introduction of the opening the way to new possibilities and applications, especially
technology in the next few weeks, said Minister Communication those related to IoT and connected objects in general. It will inspire
Technologies Nizar Ben Neji. The official highlighted the importance us to redefine the boundaries of technological development and
of the technology to the country’s digital strategy, noting: ‘[5G] will will be a key catalyst for innovation and technological progress in
guarantee a very significant increase in speed. It promises ultra- all fields.’ (May 10, 2023) Agence Ecofin

Turkey

The Middle East DNS Forum was organized by the Internet are important, and said, “As of the end of 2022, the number of
Assigned Names and Numbers Corporation (ICANN) at Wyndham fixed line subscribers will reach approximately 11.2 million and
Grand Istanbul. Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, Head of Information the number of mobile subscribers to approximately 90.3 million.
Technologies and Communications Authority, attended the event, reached. Looking at the broadband data, there are 90.6 million
which was organized to provide information about DNS-related broadband internet subscribers in total, of which approximately 19
issues and new developments in technologies. Speaking at the million are fixed subscribers and 71.7 million mobiles. The number
event, President Karagözoğlu stated that the internet makes of internet subscribers increased by 2.8% compared to the same
significant contributions to sustainable growth, innovation and period of the previous year. In terms of fiber infrastructure, fiber
development and that some statistics on internet usage in Turkey length increased by 9.8% at the end of 2022 compared to the

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