Page 109 - SAMENA Trends - May 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Jordan

Sector watchdog the Telecommunications Regulatory addition, TRC Chairman Dr Al-Jabour noted that a local exchange
Commission (TRC) has issued a decision for the establishment of would prevent Jordanian internet services being affected by
an internet exchange point (IXP) in Jordan. The decision explains disruption to international cables, and would improve data
the selection process for an entity to establish an IXP – which the protection. Under the terms of the regulations, interested parties
regulator notes will also be used in the future for each new IXP to have 30 days to submit their applications. If no applications are
serve Jordanian territories – as well as the rules for the operation received within 90 days, however, the regulator will contact two or
of the exchange, once operational. By setting up an IXP in Jordan, more prospective bidders and invite them to apply.
the TFC hopes to reduce operational costs for ISPs and improve (May 5, 2020) commsupdate.com
access speeds by exchanging and caching traffic locally. In

Lebanon

The Lebanese government resumed management of state- Communications Parliamentary Committee decided not to extend
owned operators Alfa and Touch after operating contracts held by OTMT and Zain’s deals. The committee also called for measures
Orascom Telecom Media and Technology (OTMT) and Zain Group, to restore the management of the telecoms sector to the state
respectively, expired. The Minister of Telecommunications Talal within two months after the meeting. GSMA Intelligence figures
Hawat said an international tender for new contracts would be showed Touch held a 50.6 per cent market share by connections
readied within three months, covering management and operation at end-2019, with Alfa accounting for the remaining 49.3 per cent.
of the businesses. Lebanon’s official media outlet National News (May 6, 2020) mobileworldlive.com
Agency reported in December 2019 the country’s Information and

Oman

The Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) has clarified implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Technology
the reason for the technical problem on the services of the fifth- and Communications, the Telecommunications Regulatory
generation provided by the operators in the Sultanate. A statement Authority (TRA) and telecommunications companies operating
issued online by TRA said, “The Authority would like to inform in the Sultanate, said Azza bint Suleiman Al-Ismaili, Minister
users in the Sultanate that the 5G networks belonging to Oman of Technology and Communications. The Ministry organized a
Telecommunications Company, Omantel, and the Omani Qatari virtual event to mark this occasion. The event included a speech
company, Ooredo Oman are currently suffering from external by Azza bint Suleiman Al-Ismaili, in which she touched on the
radio interference affecting the performance of some stations in importance of this day, which falls on May 17. She said that this
these networks.” The statement pointed out that, “The authority year, the day is characterized by its focus on the "Connect 2030"
coordinated with several parties in the region to find the source of program of the International Telecommunication Union(ITU),
interference and are working to fix it as soon as possible.” “The which is a common international vision to bridge the digital divide
authority would like to apologies to the generous public for this and harness information and communications technology in
issue on the fifth-generation network provided by the operators,” support of sustainable development plans in member countries.
the statement added. The statement confirmed, “The Authority She said that in line with the efforts being exerted by the world at
is in constant contact with the operators and other parties that large of the countries to curb the spread of COVID-19, the Ministry
some of its uses may be a reason for this interference.” of Technology and Communications announced the formation of
(May 24, 2020) timesofoman.com a major committee for technical innovation in coordination with
the COVID-19 Supreme Committee in the Sultanate. She added
The Sultanate, in coordination with the Telecommunication that this committee is concerned with supervising national
and Information Society (ITU), plans a number of initiatives initiatives and guiding specialized cadres to provide innovative
and projects, including providing more than 600 villages in technical solutions to address this global pandemic. Dr. Hamad
the country with satellite Internet in 2020. The project will be bin Salem Al-Rawahi, CEO of the Telecommunications Regulatory

109 MAY 2020