Page 94 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

happening in this particular direction and hopefully next year we in the press that it is holding, or has held, talks over the possible
should be able to see it.” In March 2021, the Telecommunications sale of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT-Mobitel) to foreign investors,
Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) announced that namely UK-based Lycamobile and the Adani Group. With trades
FNP and MNP would both be introduced in October that year. This unions threatening a series of walkouts across the islands against
target has evidently not been met despite receiving the required the decision, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said: ‘There
clearances in October 2021, although the TRCSL Director General were no discussions on the sale of State Owned Enterprises [SOEs]
Oshada Senanayake maintains that number portability will drive at this week’s Cabinet or anything concerning Sri Lanka Telecom.’
improvements in both voice and broadband quality by stoking The 2023 Budget proposes to restructure and divest several SOEs
competition in the market. (November24, 2022) www.developingtelecoms.com which include Sri Lankan Airlines, Sri Lanka Telecom, Colombo
Hilton, Waters Edge and Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC).
The government of Sri Lanka moved swiftly to dismiss speculation (November 23, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

Turkey

The Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dr. Ömer Fatih more than a hundred billion different communications worldwide,
Sayan attended the Informatics Summit event organized with the of which only 10% will be between people. It is expected that the
theme "Technology Will Save the World". Sayan made important number of devices connected to a network will reach trillions in
statements on informatics and technology. Speaking at the 22nd the next 10-15 years,” he said, giving important information about
Informatics Summit, which was held for the 22nd time this year, with the future transformation of communication. Sayan, who stated
the participation of important names from the public and private that the need for high capacity and speed due to the increasing
sectors and academicians, Sayan stated that keeping up with data traffic make new generation communication networks and
digital developments and integrating technological developments fiber infrastructures mandatory, said, “As the Ministry and BTK,
into business processes is the most important condition for taking we are building, diversifying, and making the digital roads of our
part in global competition. Deputy Minister Sayan said, “Today, country more capable together with our stakeholders, and with
more than 5 billion people in the world use the internet and it is new generation technologies, especially We give priority to fiber
estimated that there are more than 13 billion devices connected investments," he said. (November 24, 2022) www.btk.gov.tr
to the internet worldwide. It is estimated that by 2025 there will be

United Arab Emirates

The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory and standards, holding consultations with service providers
Authority (TDRA) announced that every company or establishment about the initiative, identifying the necessary regulatory tools to
registered in the UAE has automatically become part of Kashif activate the feature, and making the necessary adjustments to the
initiative, which means showing the name and number of the networks of service providers to activate the feature, in addition
calling party to the call recipient. This enables the call recipient to conducting technical checks on mobile phones in coordination
to recognize the calling party and allows to decide whether with manufacturers to ensure complete readiness. Commenting
to respond or not. TDRA has launched this initiative gradually, on this initiative, Eng. Saif Bin Ghelaita, Director of Technology
starting from mid-2021, in cooperation with the service providers, Development Affairs at TDRA, said: "We all receive calls, often
as part of enhancing customer satisfaction and happiness with from unknown numbers or not registered in the recipient's phone.
telecommunications services in the UAE, and it is expected to have "Kashif" reveals the name of the calling party to the recipient along
an impact in the future by reducing unwanted calls. TDRA indicated with its number. This initiative is part of TDRA’s efforts to support
that it had enacted the regulations and executive procedures the interests of the stakeholders, primarily the customers who will
related to this feature, which comes as part of the development be able, thanks to this feature, to know the name of the calling
system aimed at enhancing the trust of customers in the telecom party, and thus decide to answer the call or not. We are confident
sector in general and in calls received from numbers of private that this initiative will contribute to enhancing the happiness of
sector companies in particular, and to reduce the dissatisfaction telecom customers in the UAE, and we thank the service providers
of telecom subscribers with anonymous calls. Today, the customer for their cooperation in this context.” Bin Ghelaita added: ""Kashef"
can identify the name of the calling party, whether the call is from feature is unprecedented in the region. It is activated automatically
a mobile or fixed number. TDRA confirmed that the launch of for all calls, and it embodies best practices aimed at providing high-
this feature came after reviewing the best international practices end communication services, taking into account the customers’

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