Page 106 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

REGUL
REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATESATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

A SNAPSHOT OF REGULATORY ACTIVITIES

IN THE SAMENA REGION

Bahrain

The Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, was recognized for Outstanding Enablement in Broadband
Mohammed Al Kaabi, recently met with Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, Affordability at the South Asia, Middle East, and North Africa
Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) (SAMENA) Telecommunications Council’s Leadership & Excellence
at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), amid the (LEAD) Awards ceremony in Dubai, UAE. This award reflects the
convening of the Regional Development Forum (RDF-ARB) 2023 Authority’s commitment to ensuring cost-effective and accessible
for the Arab Region. During this engagement, Minister Al Kaabi telecommunications services for everyone. In attendance were
underscored Bahrain’s commitment to strengthening cooperation executives and dignitaries from the most prominent telecom
with the ITU. He conveyed his aspirations for the forum, which is operators, ICT providers, and regulatory bodies in the region.
taking place in Bahrain, to play a pivotal role in the enhancement Through its ongoing regulatory approach and initiatives towards
and progress of the communications sector within the region. protecting consumers, the TRA has successfully fostered a
Dr. Zavazava commended Bahrain for its instrumental support competitive environment that has resulted in lower telecom rates
of the ITU’s initiatives and stressed the significance of the forum compared to other SAMENA council members. The TRA remains
as a platform for exchanging knowledge and expertise. He also steadfast in its mission to champion the interests of consumers
pointed out the importance of discussing the various challenges and facilitate a vibrant telecommunications sector. "The LEAD
and potential opportunities that the telecommunications sector Award is a recognition of the TRA’s continuous efforts to
is facing in the Arab region. The RDF-ARB 2023 forum has prioritize the best interests of consumers and promote a thriving
successfully gathered around 70 delegates, encompassing telecommunications sector in Bahrain," commented Philip Marnick,
government officials, institutional representatives, and key players General Director of the TRA. "By focusing on the consumer, we
from the telecommunications industry. This assembly is indicative have successfully facilitated a sector that offers the best rates
of Bahrain’s proactive approach to fostering regional dialogue and in the region, this enables all individuals and businesses to stay
collaboration aimed at driving forward the telecommunications connected and helps drive digital transformation in Bahrain. The
sector’s development. (November 7, 202) www.meatechwatch.com TRA always focuses on fostering fair market competition among
operators while also safeguarding consumer rights", he added.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of Bahrain (October 18, 2023) www.tra.org.bh Draft

Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission However, it will review license and spectrum fees to enhance
(BTRC) has drafted the "National Broadband Policy 2023" to incentives for increased network investment and more equitable
help Bangladesh grow as an advanced digital economy. The competition, which was a long demand of the telecom operators.
policy aims at universal access to state-of-the-art, high-capacity The government will adopt and amend necessary laws and
broadband networks, services, technology platforms, devices regulations relating to digital finance. The policy will ensure
and applications. It will enable and expand access to new consumer protection, security, legality of digital signatures,
telecom operator licenses and open-market entry with a level- compensation for fraud or deficient service and other elements
playing field, including national and unified licenses. The policy of e-commerce. According to the policy, market competition will
will also authorize community-based networks for ensuring become more equitable, leading to increased investment, greater
competitive infrastructure investments to expand access and diversity of service options, higher quality of service and lower
connectivity. Spectrum will be utilized more efficiently allowing prices. The policy will "help establish infrastructure and resources
more cost-effective and extended delivery of wireless broadband so that these are widely and efficiently shared among competing
services by competing operators, according to the draft policy. operators and across sectors, leading to reduced costs, more

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