Page 92 - SAMENA Trends - October 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for • Regulator amends wholesale tariffs on mobile networks
general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will through to 2023;
offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a • Regulator gains increased powers allowing it greater scrutiny
steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth. Although of telcos;
it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of • Increasing international capacity assisting Qatar's long-term
the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the development goals as stated in the Qatar National Vision 2030
industry forecasts contained in this report. The report also covers program;
the responses of the telecom operators as well as government • Report includes the regulator’s market data reports to
agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that December 2020, telcos’ financial and operating data to
citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. June 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, an
This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms
tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions. sector, recent market developments.
Key developments: (October 8, 2021) developingtelecoms.com

Saudi Arabia

The Communications and Information Technology Commission (October 12, 2021) commsupdate.com
(CITC) has opened a public consultation on its plan to auction CITC has published an updated document on the “Regulation
spectrum in the 2100MHz band for Non-Terrestrial Networks and Allocation of Commercial Spectrum Bands Identified for
(NTN) technologies such as 5G-non-terrestrial networks the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)". The
(5G-NTN), mobile satellite services (MSS), internet on airplane Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC)
(A2G), and internet of things via satellite (MSS-IoT). The authority has updated the IMT regulatory document in furtherance of its
is aiming to award 2×30MHz of paired spectrum at 1980MHz- National Spectrum Strategy, which aims to unlock the potential
2010MHz/2170MHz-2200MHz, divided into two blocks of of radio spectrum in Saudi Arabia by 2025 for a smarter and
2×15MHz each. Block A2 (1995MHz-2010MHz/2185MHz- safer future. The updated regulatory IMT document is part of the
2200MHz) will be initially limited to MSS services, with the implementation plan for CITC's Spectrum Outlook for Commercial
successful bidder given the option to apply for an upgrade of and Innovative Use 2021-2023. This further strengthens CITC's
the licence for terrestrial technologies. The concessions will be strategic transition towards the role of a “Digital Regulator", and
valid for eleven years, from 1 January 2022 until 31 December it is an expression of CITC's continuing support for the Kingdom's
2032. The CITC is inviting all interested parties to submit their transformation into a digital society, with the aim of achieving a
comments by 30 October 2021. The CITC has also updated its global leadership position in the field of radio communications
timeline for forthcoming spectrum auctions, with plans to hold a and wireless technologies.
number of tenders in 2021/22: for 2100MHz airwaves in Q4 2021; (October 5, 2021) citc.gov.sa
for 600MHz, 700MHz and 3.8GHz-4.0GHz in Q1 2022; and for
1500MHz and 26GHz in H2 2022.

Sri Lanka

The Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Telecommunication Authority, due to its success in implementing
Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), Oshada Senanayake, has number portability in Pakistan’. The official highlighted the
said that the agency has received legal approval to launch government’s hope that number portability will lead to a significant
mobile number portability (MNP). In an online press conference improvement in the quality of services of voice and broadband
Senanayake confirmed that MNP will break the current once implemented, as it empowers consumers. ‘MNP is going to
practice of locking customers in and is now expected to be create a lot of empowerments. The consumer will now have the
implemented before the end of the year. As previously reported right to decide on the best service providers that he or she would
by CommsUpdate, back in April the TRCSL announced that fixed prefer to be with. Telcos will now have to give their 100 percent on
number portability (FNP) and MNP would likely be introduced service delivery, which is good for the industry,’ Senanayake said
from October 2021. At the time, Senanayake announced that the in an earlier interview.
policy would be implemented ‘in consultation with the Pakistan (October 15, 2021) commsupdate.com

92 OCTOBER 2021