Page 114 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

A SNAPSHOT OF REGULATORY ACTIVITIES

IN THE SAMENA REGION

Afghanistan

Technology, local contents and innovation programs are the prices, and thus Ministry of Higher Education focuses more
important needs for internet development and reasonable prices, on the aforementioned for telecom development)”, explained
thus, Ministry of Higher Education focuses more on the aforesaid Mr. Ansari, ATRA Acting Chairman. Ministry of Higher Education
for telecom development. A meeting was organized between leadership thanked ATRA for equipping governmental universities
ATRA leadership and Acting Minister of Higher Education and the with optical fiber and technical needs, operating local networks
ministry deputies in regard to ATRA cooperation on the ministry within universities, installing WiMax system for a number of
electronic and technical needs. Congratulating new position to the students and as well creating computer labs and WiFi zones
Acting Minister, Abbas Baseerat, “ATRA is interested to aid Higher in the IT sections. It is worth mentioning that ATRA has so far
Education Ministry in respect with scientific and technologic connected 29 universities of the ministry with optical fiber and
inventions besides the financial and technical cooperation and other 10 universities with WiMax where fiber optic connectivity
would like to pave the ground for the Afghan youth’s efforts was difficult through TDF. It has also created computer labs for
through providing technical cooperation to the Ministry of Higher other 10 accredited universities of the country and WiFi zone for
Education, ( technology, local contents and innovation programs two other universities and has installed local network for other
are important requirements for developing internet and lowering three universities. (September 28, 2020) atra.gov.af

Algeria

Algerian Minister of Post and Telecommunications Brahim Annaba- the Algerian Internet network of optical fiber to the
Boumzar announced the country will soon be connected to a international network linking the United States of America to Asia,
fourth submarine optical fiber cable. This was on the sidelines and the Orval/Alval linking Algiers, Oran, and Valencia in Spain,”
of the signing ceremony of an agreement between Algérie Poste said Brahim Boumzar. Brahim Boumzar's announcement comes
and the Tourism sector, on the generalization of the interbank a few weeks after major disruptions to Internet connectivity
payment card and the deployment of electronic payment in Algeria. A situation that is not new in the country, but which
terminals (EPT) within tourist establishments. The 4th cable “will has prompted this time a swifter response from the Minister of
reinforce the country’s data capacities supported by the existing Telecommunications.
three cables, namely the Sea-Me-We 4, the Medex linking - from (September 9, 2020) ecofinagency.com

Bahrain

Bahrain's Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) held a key as individuals. The kingdom was among the first Arab countries
meeting to discuss the implementation of the National Frequency to adopt the Plan, which reflects the outcome of the World
Plan. The National Frequency Plan allocates land, air, and Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) held in Sharm el-Sheikh,
maritime satellite spectrums locally in line with radio regulations Egypt in November 2019. The plan was reissued following the
issued by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). conclusion of the WRC, a part of the ITU Radiocommunications
It supports modern technologies and applications, meeting and is held every four years. Since 2015, the National Frequency
the requirements of the Bahrain’s telecommunications sector, Plan has been increasingly flexible, lifting restrictions relating to
including government, security, and private organizations, as well all frequency spectrums and providing them in a comprehensive

114 SEP-OCT 2020