Page 108 - SAMENA Trends - May 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

difficult to ascertain the consequences of COVID-19, but mobile is negatively impacting the operators and wreaking havoc on their
phone services will face huge challenges soon if the regulatory, revenues. We request the government to consider our proposals
tax and VAT-related issues are not addressed immediately, said so that the industry can help the country with its full potential," he
AMTOB Secretary General SM Farhad. "The coronavirus situation said. (May 9, 2020) thedailystar.net

Egypt

An “Our Digital Opportunity” initiative has been launched to help ensure transparency and data disclosure to provide users with
small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) overcome the coro- adequate information, indicators of the service quality level and
navirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Amr Talaat, Minister of Communi- how responsive telecommunication operators and service pro-
cations and Information Technology, has announced. Talaat said viders are to different types of complaints. This positively reflects
work on the initiative had already begun before the global pan- on the users’ satisfaction and improves their experience in ob-
demic took hold. He added that his ministry has been interacting taining high quality services. NTRA received 52,038 complaints
with civil society organizations and major international compa- from telecommunication service users, including complaints on
nies to ensure their cooperation in the initiative’s implementation. mobile fixed Internet services. The number of 50,549 complaints
Talaat said the initiative will assign at least 10% of Egypt’s digital was resolved, exceeding 97% of the total number of complaints
projects to SMEs, creating a practical framework for achieving received. (May 17, 2020) mcit.gov.eg
partnerships with small and emerging companies. Talaat also
emphasized that the ministry’s initiative will also have a package Egypt, represented by the Ministry of Communications and
of projects directly contracted with emerging companies. This Information Technology (MCIT), is chairing the virtual meeting of
comes in addition to a training program in data science and artifi- Study Group 5 (SG5): Environment, climate change and circular
cial intelligence, with a group of SMEs able to compete for a train- economy, of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
ing opportunity at the ministry’s expense. The winner will then Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T), on May 11-20.
join the projects implemented by the ministry. Talaat added that The purpose of the meeting is to progress on the current work and
implementation will occur through a digital opportunity platform finalize the discussions related to the World Telecommunication
launched by the Information Technology Industry Development Standardization Assembly (WTSA-20) preparations. SG5 is
Agency (ITIDA). It will include all proposed projects, the scope responsible for studies on methodologies for evaluating ICT
of implementation and the required mandates, provided that the effects on climate change and publishing guidelines for using ICTs
company submits their financial and technical offers to the main in an eco-friendly way. Under its environmental mandate, SG5 is
operators. The results of the competition will be announced via also responsible for studying design methodologies to reduce
the platform. The initiative’s first phase will include 33 projects ICTs and e-waste's adverse environmental effects, for example,
with a budget of EGP 900m. (May 19, 2020) dailynewssegypt.com through recycling of ICT facilities and equipment. In addition
to its climate-focused activities, the ITU-T Recommendations,
In its keenness to improve the quality of telecommunication Handbooks and other publications produced by SG5, have
services and enhance the users’ experience in obtaining high four main objectives. The first is to protect telecommunication
quality and affordable services, the National Telecom Regula- equipment and installations against damage and malfunction
tory Authority (NTRA) has issued a report on “Telecom Service due to electromagnetic disturbances, such as those from
Users Complaints Tracking and Follow-up System”. This reflects lightning. In this field, SG5 is one of the world's most experienced
the transparency that enables users to acquire adequate infor- and respected standardization bodies. The second is to ensure
mation on the services offered. The report comprises the indica- safety of personnel and users of networks against current and
tors of following up on the users’ complaints received on NTRA voltages used in telecommunication networks. The third is to
call center, on telephone number 155. It includes the number of avoid health risks from electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produced
complaints received, the percentage of complaints handled after by telecommunication devices and installations. The fourth is
escalation to NTRA during the measurement period, and the ser- to guarantee a good quality of service (QoS) for high speed data
vice providers’ average complaint response time during the first services by providing requirements on characteristics of copper
quarter of 2020. The report comes within the framework of NTRA cables and on the coexistence of services delivered by different
role to enhance communication and interaction with users and providers. (May 10, 2020) mcit.gov.eg

108 MAY 2020