Page 107 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

While 4G deals with connectivity, 5G's application is industry- According to a decision of the Bangladesh Telecommunication
based. "So, the two should not be compared." Teletalk Managing Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the ‘minimum speeds’ for mobile
Director Shahab says the operator has urged the finance ministry internet and fixed broadband internet will be set at 15Mbps and
to convert the spectrum fee into equity as the government is 20Mbps respectively, increasing the official threshold guidelines
the owner of spectrum. Responding to the absence of smooth from the existing 7Mbps (mobile) and 10Mbps (fixed). As per the
service for its subscribers, he says the number of towers, also latest decision, ISPs and mobile operators unable to maintain
known as base transceiver stations (BTS), of Teletalk is a third of the minimum speed standards would not be categorized as
Grameenphone's. And, it could not invest to expand BTS for a lack broadband or 4G service providers. The BTRC has formed a
of investment. "The service will improve following an increase in committee to implement the initiative, which will consult with all
investment." In March, the GSMA called for improving affordability operators before submitting a formal proposal. In 2018 the BTRC
by adopting appropriate policy and regulation in areas such as doubled its official fixed broadband speed standard to 10Mbps,
tax, subsidies and business innovation to increase mobile but according to local reports many users across the country are
internet adoption in Bangladesh. It urged the government to equip still not able to access this speed.
individuals with digital knowledge and develop an ecosystem to (November 19, 2021) The Daily Star
produce contents locally. (December 12, 2021) thedailystar.net

Egypt

The National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has obtained a population of around 600,000 in an area of 60,000 sq km. The
the ISO 9001 certificate in the Institutional Quality Management NTRA money will be used for the construction of cell sites in 30
System for regulating telecommunication services in the Egyptian urban areas and along four roads. NTRA said: “This is in line with
market by one of the major international accreditation bodies, JAS- the state’s strategy to achieve sustainable and comprehensive
ANZ. This comes within the framework of the agency’s orientation growth, as well as to provide telecommunications services, in
to apply international standards in institutional management Sinai. This would in fact help to increase national income, create
methods for the governance of telecommunications services new employment opportunities and widen areas suitable for
with companies licensed to operate in the Egyptian market, which housing and growth.” The Egyptian government, which has been
contributes to enhancing the investment climate in light of a engaged since last year in a program of digital transformation
fair and attractive competitive environment in accordance with of the country, has made universal access to telecom services a
international standards, in addition to raising the efficiency rates priority. (December 14, 2021) capacitymedia.com
of the system of governance of telecommunications services
provided to users. At the international level, NTRA advanced 54 The National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) greenlit the
positions in the international ranking in the performance index usage of higher network frequencies for Vodafone, Etisalat, and
of telecommunication regulators around the world for the year WE and is expecting an improvement in network services by early
2020, issued by the International Telecommunication Union 2022, according to a statement released by the NTRA. The three
(ITU), to become 41st among 193 countries compared to 95th network providers’ services will now run at 40 MHz of 2.6 GHz
in 2019. The NTRA also advanced 43 international centers in the on the Time Division Duplex Spectrum, a new frequency band
Mobile Wallet Regulation Index 2020 issued by the International that is expected to expand the capacity of networks and improve
Association of Mobile Networks (GSMA), becoming 36th out of 90 services. According to the statement, Minister of Communications
countries adopting this type of service globally, compared to 79th and Information Technology Amr Talaat explained that the step
in 2019. (December 15, 2021) dailynewsegypt.com aims to improve the quality of telecommunications services, help
keep pace with the heightened demand for network services in
Egypt’s telecoms regulator is to spend the equivalent of the Egyptian market, and support Egypt’s digital transformation.
US$32.6 million improving services in the Sinai peninsula. The He added that the new frequencies will help significantly improve
National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) said the quality of voice and data services over the coming period.
it will spend 513 million Egyptian pounds from the country’s The Egyptian telecommunication regulator signed investment
Universal Service Fund (USF). “This step is in line with the role agreements estimated at $1.170 billion in 2020 allowing Vodafone
of the NTRA to regulate and disseminate telecommunications Egypt to start operating at a frequency of 40MHz, and Etisalat and
services throughout the Arab Republic of Egypt, with the aim of WE at 20MHz. The statement added that the NTRA directed the
strengthening national and social correlations and contributing three mobile network operators (MNOs) to take the necessary
to economic growth” said the NTRA, according to the Ecofin measures to leverage the new frequencies as well as follow the
agency. This is part of a continuing program by the Egyptian technical procedures that will prepare the networks for the new
government to improve people’s access to telecom services, with frequencies and overcome the hurdles that may negatively affect
an emphasis was placed on rural areas and roads. Sinai, east of the quality of services. The NTRA is aiming to see remarkable
the Suez Canal between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, has improvement in the quality of voice and data services by early

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