Page 121 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

service providers, NTA has enforced Cyber Security By-law 2077. service, Internet service) implement the rules mandatorily.
It mentions a list of rules that the Telecom service providers Incompetence in implementing any rule mentioned in the Bylaw
should strictly follow and prepare a security audit report to submit will be liable of consequence. As known, NTA will analyze the
it to the authority for analysis. As the Cyber Security Bylaw 2020 is bylaw continuously and make a revision if required, so that no one
based on international standards, we can expect it to reduce the needs to compromise on their Cybersecurity.
risk of cybercrimes. The authority will make sure that the license (September 1, 2020) nepalitelecom.com
holders (Basic Telephony/Landline, Mobile service, Network

Oman

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has invited Oman’s 2040 vision, which considered this sector a supporter
comments from telecoms licensees, other stakeholders and the and enabler of economic sectors,” he added. “The ministry was
general public on its draft Market Definition and Dominance entrusted with unprecedented and new competencies such as
(MDD) Report 2020, which was last updated in 2013. Taking into setting up the national space program, supporting programmes
consideration recent and expected future developments in the for developing uses and applications of space science and
telecoms sector, the TRA has completed its analysis of all retail technology, establishing infrastructure for the development and
and wholesale markets to assess their competition status and to manufacturing of space systems and satellites, and transferring
determine the ex-ante obligations that dominant service providers and adopting advanced technology in the information technology
in those relevant markets are subject to. Interested parties have industry.” The Ministry of Transport, Communications and
until 20 September 2020 to submit their comments on the MDD Information Technology has set up a work plan to bring these
Report 2020. The draft states that Oman Telecommunications projects to reality. It will involve close cooperation between
Company (Omantel) retains its dominant position in the retail the government and private sector in the country, as well as
fixed telephony market and the retail broadband market and will be many researchers and scientists involved in the relevant fields.
subject to obligations of tariff approvals, accounting separation, “These competencies were translated through the ministry’s
non-discrimination and publication of information, while Ooredoo structure, there being a center for space, advanced technology
is no longer found to be dominant in the retail broadband market. and artificial intelligence, and directorates for infrastructure
Both operators remain dominant in the retail mobile sector, and digital platforms, thereby stimulating the sector, building
although the TRA will reassess this market two years after the future skills and empowering other sectors,” he said. “We will
launch of commercial services by the third mobile network also benefit from all ideas and opinions that contribute to
operator. Omantel and Oman Broadband Company (OBC) have improve the ministry’s work and projects. Al Shidhani went on
been designated dominant operators in the wholesale broadband to add: “Accordingly, we are working in the ministry to set work
market, although only Omantel will be subject to obligations of paths within all these competencies under specific indicators
supply of service, publication of reference offer, wholesale price that measure performance and achievement, and we will work
control and accounting separation. (September 7, 2020) commsupdate.com to achieve these goals in partnership and cooperation with all
government entities, the private sector, and Omani experts and
As part of its efforts to diversify its economy and promote specialists in the field of technology and communications.” The
research and innovation in the country, Oman plans to set up a undersecretary also praised another of His Majesty’s initiatives:
national space program, which will be complemented by space the donation of laptops to underprivileged and needy students
research and technology initiatives. The plans for Oman’s in Oman. “The directives of His Majesty to provide computers to
expansion into space were listed by Dr. Ali Al Shidhani, the higher education students from the social security segment and
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and those with low income, and the government’s rapid endeavor
Information Technology for Communications and Information to deliver communication and internet services to 598 villages
Technology, who said that developments in this direction were and rural areas in the Sultanate during this year, confirm His
part of the objectives for expansion stated by His Majesty Sultan Majesty’s interest to empower all citizens of the nation with
Haitham Bin Tarik. “The ministry’s competencies in relation to technical services and knowledge. “The Ministry of Transport,
advanced technologies came as a translation of His Majesty’s Communications and Information Technology will work side by
vision of moving forward to grasp the science and skills of the side with all partners in the communications and information
future, and enhancing the use of advanced technologies and technology sector to improve the quality of the services to meet
employing them to improve the competitive capabilities of the the needs of citizens and the strategic sectors,” he added.
national economy,” said Al Shidhani. “This comes in line with (September 1, 2020) timesofoman.com

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