Page 87 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATESATORY & POLICY UPDATES
REGUL SAMENA TRENDS

A SNAPSHOT OF REGULATORY ACTIVITIES

IN THE SAMENA REGION

Bahrain

The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) has held a national them to determine the best ways of utilizing wireless technologies
workshop on capacity building in implementing technology for to support their digitization plans’. The TRA will also launch a
developing price statistics. During the workshop, participants program to ensure that users can reap the benefits of wireless
were introduced to the latest technologies to be used in price technologies while incorporating them into the digitization of their
collection from outlets. The collected prices are used to compile operations. (December 1, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Purchasing Power Parity
(PPP). The workshop was held in line with the regional cooperative The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has made
initiatives framework between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the part of the C-Band spectrum available for 5G Private Networks,
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). placing Bahrain at the forefront of GCC countries in enabling both
Implementing such technology in the price collection process will private and public sectors to benefit from the latest technologies.
improve the data quality, increase the pace of data collection and The move is in line with the TRA’s commitment to realizing the
increase efficiency. iGA Director of Economic Statistics Noora ambitious goals outlined in its Workplan. By being the first country
Khamis Al-Saadoon explained that such workshops are in line in the GCC to lead this initiative, it will further cement the Kingdom’s
with the authority’s vision to employ the latest technologies and reputation for leadership in the digital market, having already
use the Big Data and other innovative methodologies to improve achieved 100% 5G commercial network coverage. In making the
the credibility and quality of the collected data. During the three- spectrum available, the TRA will ensure maximum flexibility while
day workshop, participants were introduced to the most recent protecting existing systems and optimize both the short and long-
technology, methods of implementing them in the field of price term use of the spectrum. TRA General Director Philip Marnick said:
statistics, their advantages, and the challenges facing their "The Kingdom of Bahrain remains one of the most well-connected
implementation. Moreover, participants were also practice the new places globally. Not only does 5G technology enable better mobile
technology extracting the data from different types of e-commerce broadband for consumers, it also supports industrial applications.
outlets. (December 4, 2022) www.tradearabia.com To ensure the Kingdom can take full advantage of the potential
of wireless technology, the TRA is making spectrum available in
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has made the 3.8 to 4.2GHz band to support private network services.” The
part of the C-band spectrum available for 5G private networks, licenses will be available to businesses, government users, and Draft
in line with the goals outlined in its Workplan for the 2022-23 licensed operators, allowing them to determine the best ways of
period. By making spectrum available in the 3.8GHz-4.2GHz utilizing wireless technologies to support their digitization plans.
band, the regulator says it will ensure maximum flexibility while The TRA will also launch a program to ensure users can reap the
protecting existing systems and optimizing both the short and benefits of wireless technologies while incorporating them into the
long-term use of the frequencies. Licenses will be available to digitization of their operation.
businesses, government users and licensed operators, ‘allowing (November 29,2022) www.tra.org.bh

Bangladesh

The telecom regulator launched a new benchmarking system to four units of the system, he said. Two vehicle-mounted chassis-
ensure standard voice and internet services for the customers. The based systems and two backpack-based systems will be used to
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission launched measure the service quality in different parts of the country, Kabir
the new system at a press conference at its office in Dhaka. The said. Each of the two vehicles is mounted a chassis-based system
new system was acquired from German-based company Rohde & equipped with 24 terminals. They can measure service quality of
Schwarz, said Brigadier General Md Ehsanul Kabir, director general 2G, 3G and 4G voice calls, 3G and 4G data speed, 'over the top'
at engineering and operations division at the commission. The apps (OTT) of all operators and the service quality of Google and
benchmarking system will enable BTRC to test the service quality WhatsApp. Through the backpack-based systems, the quality of
of the mobile network operators in four divisions at a time with mobile phone services can be easily checked in outdoor places as

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