Page 106 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

all these policies were developed in coordination with the Ministry government strives to disseminate open data in order to encourage
of Finance and National Economy, the Economic Development cooperation and involvement of all segments of the public, which
Board, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, the will result in innovative solutions that seize opportunities and
Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission, the Central Bank of overcome the challenges facing everyone in order to improve the
Bahrain, and the National Communication Centre. He pointed out quality of life. Dr. Al-Khaja also touched on digital policies, which
that the participation of these various entities has contributed include the digital services policy first, the digital government
to covering many aspects necessary in order to formulate policy as a right guaranteed to all, and the single data entry policy.
advanced policies that lead to achieving their desired goals, such He pointed out that through these three policies, the government
as encouraging innovation, attracting investments, ensuring the seeks to achieve higher levels of transparency, openness and
security and privacy of user information, and increasing customer inclusiveness in government operations, establish a data-based
satisfaction with government services. He added that the iGA is culture within government agencies, as well as encourage the
keen to achieve more progress in the United Nations e-government integrated government approach and encourage participation
index, so it formed a committee to study the readiness of the in the design of public service delivery and the development of
Kingdom of Bahrain in the United Nations e-participation index policies. Dr. Al Khaja reviewed the e-participation policy, which
report, the next version of which will be issued next year. These highlights the government's commitment to providing traditional
digital policies have been introduced and linked to the report's means of participation electronically and enhancing social media
indicators, in order to make progress in it. Al-Qaed explained channels, in addition to achieving a quantum leap in the use of
that these policies are based on the government's confidence e-participation. He added that the iGA, during its policies, has
in spreading a government approach based on comprehensive been keen to learn about the Gulf and international experiences, to
digital orientation for all sectors in the Kingdom, in line with obtain the best terms and principles presented, and employ them
the latest global trends. He added that the iGA is working in in line with the e-transformation movement in the Kingdom of
cooperation with various authorities in the Kingdom to develop Bahrain Over recent years, the expectations of different audiences
implementation plans for these policies, stressing that the about the quality of public services have doubled, with technical
importance of community awareness of them, so that future trends innovations increasingly permeating most details of their daily
are based on the provision of services in accordance with these lives day by day which prompted the government to promote
policies based on cooperation between government agencies modern technologies as an essential component of any services
and the beneficiaries of their services. Deputy Chief Executive it plans to develop, implement, and launch so that these services
of Electronic Transformation Dr. Zakaria Ahmed Al Khaja spoke keep these services in line with the needs of the public and meet
about the open data policy, explaining that it urges government their requirements efficiently. The comprehensive e-government
agencies to make their data available through the Bahrain Open initiatives implemented by the Kingdom over the past decades
Data Platform and update them periodically. The government of have helped to empower government agencies and direct them
the Kingdom of Bahrain considers data sharing with the public a towards improving the levels of effectiveness of their operations
crucial step towards enhancing transparency and accountability and the efficiency of service delivery.
with regard to governance. He pointed out that to this end, the (November 6, 2021) newsofbahrain.com

Bangladesh

Bangladesh joined more than 60 other countries as it rolls out at a program at the Radisson hotel in Dhaka, according to an
the fifth-generation (5G) of mobile internet connectivity on 12 invitation of the telecommunication division. But the launch
December 2021. State-run mobile phone operator Teletalk will be comes at a time when Bangladesh is yet to benefit from its 3G and
the first to launch the super-speed technology, while the private 4G technology deployments. The reach of mobile networks has
operators are expected to jump on the bandwagon next year after expanded with 95 per cent of the population covered by 4G mobile
the auction for spectrum in March. Teletalk will introduce the broadband networks. Still, only 28 per cent of the mobile phones
updated service on an experimental basis in six areas: the Prime are connected to 4G, while 25 per cent use 3G and the rest 47 per
Minister's Office, Parliament, Secretariat, Bangabandhu Museum cent 2G, said the GSM Association, an industry organization that
on Dhanmondi 32, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide,
place Tungipara in Gopalganj, and the National Martyrs' Memorial in a report in March. Bangladesh has 12.92 crore internet
in Savar, said its Managing Director Md Shahab Uddin yesterday. subscribers as of October. Of them, 11.91 crore access internet
So, Teletalk's 65 lakh mobile phone subscribers will have to wait through mobile phones and the rest through internet service
for more days as the operator is yet to get the clearance for its Tk providers. "It was in the election manifesto of the government
235 crore project to set up equipment at 200 points. Subscribers that it would launch 5G by 2021," said Subrata Roy Maitra, vice-
of the private mobile phone operators will have to wait until chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory
the spectrum auction. The trial run of 5G will be inaugurated Commission. He says 4G and 5G services are not the same.

106 NOV-DEC 2021