Page 109 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Saudi Arabia Grants Three Licenses for Digital Government Transformation

Saudi Arabia has issued interim licenses government and the objectives of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social
to three companies for digital government Saudi Vision 2030. The list of platforms Development, the Ministry of Justice, the
business, state news Saudi Press Agency and products included “Wasl”, “Naql”, Food and Drug General Authority, the Public
reported. Elm for Information Security, “Maritime Transport”, “Taajeer”, “Washaj” Transport Authority, the Saudi Standards,
Takamol Business Services, and Thiqah and “Drones” of the “Elm” company. Metrology and Quality Authority, the State
have been granted licenses to develop and “Ajeer”, “Qiwa”, “Musaned”, in addition to Properties General Authority, the National
operate 15 existing digital government “Donate” of “Takamol” Company, besides Center for Government Resource Systems,
platforms and products. Saudi Arabia, “Etimad”, “Saber”, “Ehkam”, “Al-Muwathaq”, the National Center for the Development
alongside other Gulf governments, are and “Sedr” of “Thiqah” Company. These of the Non-Profit Sector, and the Saudi
actively digitally transforming government platforms and products are affiliated with Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming
entities and services. The Governor of 10 government agencies, which are; The and Drones.
the Digital Government Authority, Eng.
Ahmed bin Muhammad Al-Suwayan, stated
that granting these licenses comes to
achieve the objectives of the authority and
carry out its functions, as these interim
licenses are one of the outcomes of the
“Experimental Regulatory Environment for
Digital Government Business” initiative
launched by the authority in November of
2021, through which the authority seeks
to raise the efficiency and quality of digital
platforms, ensure business continuity,
regulate property rights for government
digital platforms and products, govern the
mechanism of data sharing and prices of
services provided in a way that contributes
to improving the investment environment
to support entrepreneurs, strengthening
the partnership between the public sector
and private sector, and accelerating the
growth of the digital economy to achieve
the strategic directions of the digital

GCRA Begins Consulting on Quality of Service Framework for Broadband

Services

A consultation on proposals for a quality broadband service providers, should be of the scope of the GCRA’s proposals, it
of service (QoS) framework for both fixed established. As per the proposals being has noted that the framework would
and mobile broadband services has been considered, the GCRA has suggested that distinguish between network operators
launched by the Guernsey Competition operators providing broadband services and service providers in the provision of
and Regulatory Authority (GCRA). would be required to: measure their QoS fixed broadband services ‘to account for
According to the watchdog it is looking performance across several technical differing levels of control over network
to determine whether broadband service (e.g. internet access speed) and customer assets. Further, the regulator has said the
providers should be required to measure service (e.g. fault repair time) parameters; framework will apply separately to fixed
and publicly report on QoS performance. publish regular reports (every three months) and mobile broadband services, and, for
Further, its consultation paper also asks on their performance on their websites, particular technical parameters, such as
whether an independent broadband price in a clear and consistent way that allows internet access service speed and latency,
comparison tool that provides more easily easy comparison across operators; and the framework is expected to be applied at
accessible, comparable pricing information provide broadband plan information to an the product level.
on broadband offers from all Guernsey independent comparison website. In terms

109 MAY-JUNE 2022