Page 110 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

& digital services use due largely due COVID-19 containment of Morocco has expressed a desire to improve internet
measures such as distance learning/education or ecommerce." accessibility and quality. As online businesses are on the rise in
Improving the accessibility and quality of broadband internet in that country—especially during times when there is confinement
the country has previously been cited as a priority for Morocco’s like now--improving broadband connections will be necessary for
government, especially during confinement and with the rise of this development trend not only continue but also prosper even
online businesses in the country. In recent years, the government more so than before! (December 5, 2021) anrt.ma

Nepal

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority has prepared a services that use wired and wireless networks created only inside
draft of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine a building. These IoT and M2M devices cannot be connected
Communications (M2M) Regulation Framework 2021 to legalize to the internet or the corporate intranet. The outdoor category
the system where physical objects are connected to the internet includes internet of things. As per the draft, the authority will
allowing them to communicate with one another without human provide authorization to provide outdoor internet of things and
intervention. As per the International Telecommunication mobile-to-mobile communications services to authorized
Union (ITU), the internet of things is a global infrastructure telecom service providers, network service providers, internet
for the information society enabling advanced services by service providers, authorized IoT and M2M service providers or
interconnecting (physical and virtual) things based on existing any firm willing to provide the services. The authorized internet of
and evolving, interoperable information and communication things and mobile-to-mobile communications service providers
technologies. The devices connected to the internet of things shall provide services by using the network provided by telecom
range from ordinary household objects to sophisticated industrial service providers, network service providers and internet service
tools. Machine-to-machine communications is the exchange of providers as traditional value-added service providers. According
data between a remote machine and a back-end information and to the draft, the cellular internet of things will be provided only
technology infrastructure. Ambar Sthapit, Director of the Authority, by the mobile service licensee and basic telecommunications
said that a wide range of internet of things and mobile-to-mobile service licensee. The non-cellular internet of things and mobile-
communications are emerging and increasing, and it has become to-mobile communications, license exempted bands for IoT, ultra-
important to introduce such a system in Nepal too. The internet wideband (UWB), short-range device (SRD) bands and industrial,
of things is used for autonomous vehicles, smart meetings and scientific and medical (ISM) bands as specified by the authority
remote sensors that monitor and control office or home equipment, will be used under given conditions for non-cellular IoT and M2M
including things required for smart cities. “If any firm wishes to applications. For the internet of things and mobile-to-mobile
provide internet of things and mobile-to-mobile communications device identification, number ranging will be used in the National
services by developing a network, the authority will provide Numbering Plan following the ITU-T E.164 and 164.1 standard.
licenses to them,” he said. The draft has categorized internet of However, depending on the growth of IoT and M2M services,
things and machine-to-machine communications services based the requirement can be reviewed by the authority. ITU-T E.164
on network size and coverage into indoor and outdoor internet of describes the international public telecommunication numbering
things and mobile-to-mobile service. The indoor internet of things plan.
and mobile-to-mobile service category includes applications and (December 5, 2021) kathmandupost.com

Oman

Ahead of what is anticipated to be a strong inflow of electronic equipment. But, given the ubiquity of IoT devices and with their
devices incorporating Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the presence expected to grow exponentially going forward, they can
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the Sultanate pose a threat to users – individuals, businesses, infrastructure
of Oman is formulating regulations to ensure that connected systems, and government institutions – if not suitably secured
devices and networks are safe from security and cyber threats. from potential attacks from hackers and cyber-criminals. To
Our world is awash with IoT devices – pieces of hardware this end, the TRA has come out with draft guidelines that, when
and machines that can communicate with each other and adopted and enforced, will require vendors, manufacturers and
exchange data over the Internet. They are found in everything service providers of IoT devices and related software services to
from household appliances and consumer gadgets to industrial comply with robust security standards. The draft version of the
machines and infrastructure systems and even transportation ‘Internet of Things (IoT) Security Regulatory Framework’, issued

110 NOV-DEC 2021