Page 88 - SAMENA Trends - October 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

A SNAPSHOT OF REGULATORY ACTIVITIES

IN THE SAMENA REGION

Afghanistan

The Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) has issued process is ongoing in Helmand and Kandahar provinces. In a
a statement claiming that all telecom sites across the nation’s related development meanwhile, the ATRA also claimed that it
34 provinces have been operational and that services have been had met with representatives of telecom companies regarding
expanded to unserved areas. The regulator – now operating issues including the regulation of the sector, expansion of
under the aegis of the Taliban government, following the group’s services and security and safety. At the meeting, the acting ATRA
takeover in August this year – noted that the operation of around chairman issued several instructions to the operators, including
1,300 sites had been halted during the fighting. On the order of forbidding the monitoring of calls in relation to legal cases and
the acting communications minister and ATRA chairman Mualawi ordering operators to filter or block websites with pornographic
Najeebullah Haqani, the Taliban government has taken control content. Further, the providers were told to contact the ATRA or
of telecom sites previously held by foreign armed forces, whilst communications ministry regarding any security concerns and
Afghan Telecom (Aftel) equipment that had been removed has to take steps to expand 4G and fibre-optic network coverage.
been reclaimed by security services and re-installed. In addition, Operators were also urged to increase investment, to lower prices
the official has ordered that telcos be barred from relocating and improve coverage. The ATRA added that it had assured the
sites and infrastructure on security grounds. The ATRA adds attendees of its cooperation with matters such as frequency
that sites that were destroyed during the fighting have been rights, SIM registration and other related fields. The regulator
restored in may areas of the country and that services have did not specify which companies attended the meeting, though
been expanded to previously-unserved areas. According to the a separate press release was issued regarding discussions with
regulator, coverage in Nangarhar province has been increased to Afghan Wireless Communications Company (AWCC) related to the
99%, 3G services were activated in districts of Urzgan and Kunar cellco’s plans for investment in the expansion and improvement
and telecom services were made available in Kharwar district of of services.
Logar for the first time. Elsewhere, the infrastructure restoration (October 21, 2021) commsupdate.com

Bahrain

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the Kingdom to Bahrain’s digital presence in key sectors such as tourism,
of Bahrain has launched its promotional campaign aimed at culture, and the economy. The move is aimed at accelerating the
introducing the mechanisms for registering new domain names kingdoms drive to deliver an increasing number of its services
for Bahrain (.bh), demonstrating the importance and benefits online. “TRA has launched an advanced and globally accredited
of using the domain name for Bahrain, and clarifying the next online system for registering domain names, which will contribute
stages that TRA will follow to make domain names available to to the development of an important aspect of the future vision
businesses and the public in an easy and accessible manner. A of digital transformation at the public and private levels.” Says
domain name is a name in English or Arabic letters chosen to Director of Cyber Security &Technical Affairs, Eng. Mohamed
be the address and the identity of the website and its services. Abdulla Alnoaimi. “The registration of the domain name of Bahrain
It is worth noting that the TRA is managing and regulating the gives a Bahraini identity to local trademarks in particular or to
domain name registration services of Bahrain in both languages. individuals in general who are interested in the technology field,
Domain names will be available for assignment with mainly IT which distinguishes them from the rest of the names of other
companies, including telecommunications companies licensed websites in the Internet world. Registration of names will become
by TRA wishing to assign domain names on behalf of TRA so that accessible to everyone and in an easy way compared to the
assignment is available for local and international customers. previous situation.” He continued This campaign will also clarify
The new process of registration is fast, simple, and secure the various options for registering domain names for websites,
cutting the time of registration from days to minutes. Being able including global domain name registration websites, introducing
to register your (.bh) domain in such a quick manner is a boost the process of moving from one registrar to another in the event the

88 OCTOBER 2021