Page 131 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Pakistan

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has carried out an PTA field teams with the ultimate aim to pursue the operators
independent Quality of Service (QoS) Survey in 15 Cities and 8 for provision of better mobile services and to promote a healthy
Motorways/Highways/Inter City Roads of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber competition among the operators. (June 22, 2022) pta.gov.pk
Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) in
order to measure the performance and quality of Cellular Mobile Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has received Rs 19.39
Operators’ (CMOs) services being provided to their customers. Billion (equivalent to USD 98.49 Million) against third instalment of
During the survey, the licensed KPIs of voice, network coverage, license renewal fee from two Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs)
SMS and mobile broadband/data were checked using state of the Telenor Pakistan and Pakistan Mobile Communication Ltd. (Jazz).
art automated QoS Monitoring & Benchmarking Tool. The drive The amount has been deposited in Federal Consolidated Fund
test teams selected survey routes in such a manner to cover main (FCF). With this deposit, the total deposits by PTA in FCF during
roads, service roads and majority of sectors/colonies in areas the current financial year i.e. 2021-22 have become Rs. 102.5
being survey. Based upon the compliance level of each KPI against Billion (equivalent to USD 577 Million). (May 26, 2022) pta.gov.pk
threshold defined in the respective licenses and QoS Regulations,
CMOs have been ranked between 1st to 5th position in Mobile To proliferate the usage of Internet of Things (IoTs) in Pakistan,
Network Coverage and Voice Services as per compliance level Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has started accepting
in surveyed cities and motorways/highways. Similarly, in Mobile applications for "Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN)" license.
Broadband Speed segment, the ranking is with respect to the This license shall be valid for a term of 5 (five) years. Applicants
highest data download speed. The survey results revealed that for the license will have to provide letter of application, CNIC
CMOs are compliant with respect to Broadband Services to a along with other relevant details/documents. The complete list of
great extent while SMS and voice KPIs have been found below the information and requirements is available at: https://www.pta.gov.
licensed threshold in the areas of Punjab, Sindh, KPK, Balochistan pk/en/industry-support/home/iot-lpwan-license-090522. This is
and AJ&K. Eventually, necessary instructions have been issued in pursuance to Rolling Spectrum Strategy 2020-2023 issued by
to the operators for taking corrective measures so as to ensure Government of Pakistan, and to facilitate introduction of futuristic
improvement in the service quality upto the licensed standards. technologies through automation in different industries.
The service quality monitoring activity is being carried out by (May 10, 2022) pta.gov.pk

Qatar

The Minister of Communications & Information Technology, the amendments, the CRA will release additional spectrum for
Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, has approved amendments made expanding and upgrading 5G networks in the 3.5GHz and 26GHz
by the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) to Annexure bands to Ooredoo and Vodafone ‘by 2023’, with total allocated
‘G’ related to Network Rollout and Coverage Obligations, to enable spectrum bandwidth potentially reaching ‘up to 1000MHz’
the nation’s two mobile operators Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar depending on the service providers’ demands, The Peninsula
to further improve the performance of their networks and the reported. The amended license obligations state that 5G networks
quality of services provided to consumers, in particular further must cover 99% of Qatar with minimum data speeds of 100Mbps
facilitating the availability of 5G technology across Qatar. Under by 2024. (May 23, 2022) commsupdate.com

Saudi Arabia

The Communications and Information Technology Commission The Network Neutrality Regulations Document establishes
(CITC) has published a public consultation on “Network Neutrality common provisions to protect consumers’ rights to access
Regulations Document” as part of its initiatives under the Digital lawfully permissible content, safeguard local content providers’
Content Council which aims for a thriving digital economy by non-discriminatory access to the market, promote healthy
protecting consumers, safeguarding competition, ensuring reliable competition, foster digital innovation, and ensure the continuity of
services, fostering digital innovation, and promoting transparency. the service providers’ control over their operations. CITC invites

131 MAY-JUNE 2022