Page 129 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

e-wallets to the range of services included within its ‘My NTRA’ worldwide, encompassing a large number of integrated services
app. Using their ID numbers, users can identify e-wallets registered for end-users. Downloaded about 2 million times so far, My NTRA
with their name across the networks of the four mobile operators includes many interactive services starting with ‘My Numbers’,
in Egypt’s market and across banks as well. Users may also cancel through which users can check which cell phone numbers they
such wallets via the app. It is worth noting that each user has the own with each operator in the country’s market without visiting
right to create three e-wallets at maximum in accordance with the their branches. It also includes dialing the free-of-charge unified
regulatory frameworks established by the NTRA and the Central code to inquire about or cancel entertainment services in response
Bank of Egypt (CBE). The service was actually added after users’ to users’ complaints regarding extra charges on monthly packages.
feedback, complaints, and needs were taken into account as part Furthermore, the NTRA also provides operators with a ‘Points of
of the NTRA’s role to improve basic telecom services for individuals Sale (PoS) Interactive Service’ through which users can look up
and corporations, boost users’ experience, and ease up the process the addresses of the operators’ official points of sale in Egypt’s
of providing services via mobile. As for corporate services, the market. Users can also escalate their complaints to the NTRA or
NTRA also added licensing services for wireless telecom devices inquire about and track the status of already existing ones via
to the range of interactive services encompassed in My NTRA in the complaints section in the event no satisfactory solution was
order to carry out all procedures related to permits, licenses, and reached with an operator. Additionally, they can test and measure
custom clearances of telecom services via app. Furthermore, this the speed of Wi-Fi or data internet services via the ‘Internet Speed
step aims to provide the NTRA’s services online in conjunction Check Service’ on the Android app. (April 25, 2022) dailynewsegypt.com
with the state’s goal to go digital. The My NTRA interactive app
was launched at the end of 2021 and is considered a leading app

Jordan

The number of active fiber Internet subscriptions had hit 355,000 5.4 million prepaid and 1.9 million postpaid subscriptions. Until
by the end of the first quarter of this year against 238,000 for the end of the first quarter, 65.5 percent of the population had a
broadband Internet services. According to statistics published on mobile phone. There were 268,000 active landline subscriptions,
the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC)'s website, with 176,000 being residential and 92,000 being commercial.
there were about 129,000 active subscriptions to ADSL internet (June 6, 2022) en.ammonnews.net
services. Active mobile subscriptions totaled 7.3 million, including

Kuwait

The Communications and Information Technology Regulatory additional capacities on the new cable. The sources said, “The sea
Authority (CITRA) is currently working on establishing an and land cables will enhance the level of service and prices offered
international telecommunication access infrastructure by linking to the public by linking Kuwait to the global Internet, and work
with one of the longest underwater cables in the world. According on distributing international communications through multiple
to informed sources, the cables, which will be implemented international gateway. This will reduce the impact of interruptions
through a consortium of companies, will pass through the Gulf on the users, and enhance the sustainability of linking Kuwait with
countries to South Africa, and then link with the international the global network”. Regarding the number of land cables, they
communication traffic, thus becoming the longest global marine stated that the country has three land cables currently, indicating
cables. Kuwait is currently connected to two marine cables that that work is underway to establish a fourth land cable that will be
link it to international telecommunications traffic. However, one of completed within six months after creating extensions between
the cables is disabled due to frequent interruption and inefficiency the country’s switchboards.The sources called on the Ministry of
as a result of its old infrastructure. The establishment of a new Communications to establish parallel lanes for cables linked to the
underwater cable would increase the telecommunications traffic switchboards, explaining that the Umm Al-Hayman, Al- Zour and
to and from the global internet so that local companies can Al-Nuwaiseeb exchange switchboards are linked by one cable, and
provide Internet services to the public with higher efficiency. The in the event of a disconnection, the communications traffic will
granting of a license to a company to establish a free international be affected, especially in light of the construction works on King
communications infrastructure in Kuwait will contribute to Fahad bin Abdulaziz Road (Fifth Ring Road).
increasing the annual revenues of the state.It will also contribute (June 22, 2022) zawya.com/en
to strengthening the Internet for local companies by operating

129 MAY-JUNE 2022