Page 128 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

after the operators assured the agency they would take measures connection base to 38.1 million in March from 37.7 million in
to ensure their SIM cards don’t support illegal calls. Teletalk MD February. Meanwhile, Robi, the second-largest operator added
Shahab Uddin told The Daily Star it would again appeal to the BTRC 0.29 million connections in March, reaching 54.1 million from 53.8
to revise the penalty. (June 13, 2022) mobileworldlive.com million in February. The number of connections of state-owned
telecommunication operator Teletalk remained almost the same at
The number of broadband and mobile internet subscribers in 6.89 million as it added only 10,000 connections during the same
Bangladesh stood at 11 million and 113.9 million respectively period. However, although the number of internet users hit the 125
in March this year, surpassing February's total of 122.8 million. million mark, almost 75% of the country’s population, the unique
The number of mobile internet users increased by 1.21 million in internet penetration in Bangladesh still lacks behind. According to
March, with the number of broadband internet connections rising a report released recently by the GSM Association, an organization
by 0.89 million after being stuck at 10 million users for more than that represents the interests of mobile network operators
a year. In addition to the growth of internet subscribers in March, worldwide, the unique mobile internet penetration in Bangladesh is
the country’s mobile phone subscriptions also increased by 1.4 only 31 %. This is lower than the average in South Asia, the report
million at the end of the month to 182.9 million from 181.5 million concluded. Among the South Asian countries, the penetration of
in the previous month. Market leader Grameenphone gained the unique mobile phone internet users in India and Nepal is 38% and
highest connections of 0.69 million during the month among the the penetration is 52% in Sri Lanka. However, the GSMA report also
operators, growing its connection base to 83.9 million in March said that the unique mobile phone penetration in Bangladesh was
from 83.2 million in February. On the other hand, the third-largest higher than the South Asian average of 54%, which for Bangladesh
operator, Banglalink, gained 0.39 million connections, taking its is 55%. (May 9, 2022) dhakatribune.com

Egypt

The National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has financed provided for users. Many users living in Haram, Faisal, and Kirdasa
the development of Egyptian rural villages by L.E. 150 million, complained about poor service quality in these areas. As per
and about 600 million are expected to be dispersed during the the field inspections conducted by NTRA’s technical teams, it
fiscal year 2022/2023. During a meeting with the Parliament’s was clear those users had been receiving telecom services from
Planning and Budget Committee, to discuss the draft plan and illegal networks not affiliated with any of the licensed operators
NTRA’s general budget, Vice President of NTRA, Ashraf Hosni, in Egypt’s market whatsoever, and therefore, telecom services
said that about “381 million pounds were spent on spreading in such residential areas were entirely affected. After taking the
communications services on roads and areas deprived of them, necessary legal action, Telecom Police escorted by inspectors and
and it is expected that about half a billion pounds will be spent law enforcement officers in the NTRA carried out a mission where
during 2022/ 2023.” NTRA’s funding of countryside’s development 1,089 Wi-Fi routers, 146 short-range nano-stations, 157 access
in Egypt comes in the framework of the presidential development points, 202 multi-port switches, 19 long-range microwaves, 21
initiative of “Haya Karima,” or as it translates to “Dignified life.” external antennas, and 33 power-supplies to telecom networks
He added that Egypt has made progress in the financial inclusion were all seized or removed. As affirmed by the NTRA, law
index to become among the ten fastest growing countries in the enforcement campaigns are carried out within the NTRA’s strategy
field of digital inclusion among 82 countries. Hosni also explained to boost the level of services provided for users and make sure all
that the budget of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority came telecom devices in Egypt’s market conform with the international
in accordance with general trends and in light of the state’s 2030 standards. Such campaigns also aim to narrow down the use of
strategy, which aims to achieve sustainable development, and the unauthorized devices, eradicate harmful practices, and prevent
budget has been prepared in accordance with the laws, regulations law violations in Egypt’s telecom market which have a negative
and decisions regulating the preparation of the budgets of public impact on the quality of telecom services provided for users. To
and economic bodies. (June 2, 2022) egypttoday.com this end, the NTRA works to ensure that all rules and regulating
procedures are abided by to guarantee the rights of telecom users.
The National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has removed The NTRA also calls upon users of telecom services to make
unlicensed wireless networks in major areas in Giza governorate. sure they are using the services provided by licensed telecom
Unlicensed networks had a negative impact on the quality of operators, since unlicensed networks do not actually abide by the
telecom services in Haram, Faisal, Kirdasa, and the surrounding quality standards acknowledged by the NTRA. Furthermore, users
areas, and therefore, these areas had been experiencing quality of such networks do not have the right to receive proper customer
issues in terms of voice and data transfer services. Service service or report any quality issue. Unlicensed networks are also
levels were consequently boosted at such areas, according to illegal by virtue of law and have a harmful impact on service quality
the measurements conducted by NTRA post removal. In fact, this for wide distances in the areas where they are deployed.
step comes in line with the NTRA’s role to govern and regulate (May 17, 2022) dailynewsegypt.com
the telecom market as well as improve the levels of service The National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has added

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