Page 101 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Algeria Boosts ICT Cooperation with China

Yang Jiechi a member of the political Development (CIDCA), the partners signed partnership in 2014. It is also thanks
bureau and Director of the office of the an economic and technical cooperation to this collaboration that China helped
Foreign Affairs Commission of the Central agreement for a grant of 100 million yuan Algeria to build and launch in December
Committee of the Chinese Communist ($14.8 million). The money will be used 2017 its first telecommunications satellite.
Party (CCP), paid an official visit to to finance cooperation projects between The equipment was launched into space
Algeria from October 10 to 11, 2020. the two countries. The cooperation by a Chinese Long March-3 rocket from
This was part of "the exchange of visits between Algeria and China has been the launch center in Xichang, Sichuan
between officials of the two countries to promoted to the rank of global strategic province.
strengthen and promote ties of friendship
and cooperation between Algeria and the
People's Republic of China," according
to Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Yang Jiechi - who was received in
audience by the President of the Republic,
Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and the Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Sabri Boukadoum -
assessed with them the cooperation
relations between the two countries in
various fields, including information and
communication technologies. They also
discussed the possibilities of promoting
and developing their relations. During the
trip to Algeria, which was attended by
Wang Xiaotao, President of the Chinese
International Cooperation Agency for

MTN Ghana Seeks Supreme Court Review of SMP Declaration

MTN Ghana has filed an application with Court of Justice (Commercial Division) taken note of the ruling and acknowledges
the country’s Supreme Court seeking a issued a judgment on 1 September the role of the NCA in promoting fair
review of its designation as a significant dismissing the company’s legal challenge competition, but ‘regretfully our concerns
market power (SMP) operator by the that the regulator’s decision did not meet remain unsolved’.
National Communications Authority (NCA). the requirements of procedural fairness.
The announcement comes after the High In a statement, MTN Ghana said it had

Malaysia Operators Fined For SIM Registration Violations

Malaysia’s telecoms regulator fined six statement, the commission said the action
mobile operators a total of MYR700,000 reflects its “firmness and commitment” in
($168,500) for failing to verify the identity ensuring the interests of users are always
of new prepaid subscribers in 2019. protected as well as ensuring the prepaid
The Malaysian Communications and SIM card registration process complies
Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said U with its guidelines. The MCMC reminded
Mobile was hit with the largest penalty of operators it will take stern action against
MYR250,000, while Celcom Axiata and Tune those failing to comply, adding they
Talk each was fined MYR150,000. Maxis must use an automated platform that is
must pay MYR100,000 for the SIM card encrypted and secure when registering
registration errors, YTL Communications new subscribers. A customer is limited to
MYR40,000 and Tone Plus MYR10,000. In a owning five SIM cards.

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