Page 125 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Tunisia

Tunisia has one of the most sophisticated telecom infrastructures passed, which has led to one of the most active e-government
in North Africa. Penetration rates for mobile and internet services and e-commerce sectors in Africa. BuddeComm notes that
are among the highest in the region. Stimulated by the Digital the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant
Tunisia 2020 program, a number of regulatory measures and impact on production and supply chains globally. During the
infrastructure projects have been instituted aimed at improving coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to
internet connectivity to underserved areas. The MNOs have built experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may
extensive LTE infrastructure, while operators such as Ooredoo also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows
are working with vendors to develop 5G networks and services when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall
though the regulator does not expect to offer 5G licenses until progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some
2021. Other investment has been earmarked for vectoring VDSL countries. On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services
and fiber to deliver improved fixed-line broadband services. and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-
The events of the ‘Arab Spring’ revolution in 2011 drove the scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable
country into a brief recession, but GDP growth soon returned incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for
to pre-crisis levels. While GDP growth has been modest yet general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will
sufficient to encourage confidence in economic recovery, the offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a
government’s measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth. Although
are likely to result in a significant decline in GDP for 2020. The it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts
MNOs Ooredoo and Orange Tunisie are also licensed as fixed- of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the
line operators and have launched DSL and FttP services. In industry forecasts contained in this report. The report also covers
addition, a dozen public and private ISPs compete in this sector, the responses of the telecom operators as well as government
supported by a nationwide fiber optic backbone network and agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that
international access via submarine and terrestrial fiber. A reform citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services.
of the country’s Telecommunications Act was initiated in 2013, This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of
and government internet censorship was abolished. In addition, tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.
laws supporting e-commerce and digital signatures have been (October 10, 2020) developingtelecoms.com

Turkey

The state-backed Turkey Wealth Fund (TWF) has obtained all entire 24.0% indirect stake and a 2.2% tranche from Cukurova, with
necessary regulatory clearances for its agreed share transactions the latter agreeing to sell its other remaining 11.6% to existing
to become the controlling shareholder of mobile and fixed shareholder LetterOne (making LetterOne the second largest
network operator Turkcell. Turkcell has meanwhile informed its Turkcell parent with 24.8% of equity). TWF has acquired public
shareholders that its Annual General Assembly meeting will be shares of 22 companies in eight strategic sectors, including
held on 21 October 2020, at which Turkcell shareholders will be Turkish Airlines, Ziraat Bank, Halkbank, VakifBank, Borsa Istanbul,
asked to approve the revised Articles of Association enabling the Turkey’s Petroleum Pipeline Company (BOTAS), Turkish Petroleum
transaction agreements involving TWF, Telia Company, LetterOne, Corporation (TPAO) and satellite/telecoms group Turksat.
Cukurova Holding and Ziraat Bank. In June 2020 TWF agreed to (September 28, 2020) The Daily Sabah
take a 26.2% stake in Turkcell by purchasing Telia Company’s

United Arab Emirates

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has received certificate from Patrick Moody, British Ambassador to the United
the BSI Flex 45005. 3.0 certificate, issued by the British Standards Arab Emirates, in a virtual meeting. BSI awards this certificate
Institute (BSI), as a distinct entity in applying best practices and to entities that were able to meet business continuity and
work guidelines in response to COVID-19 pandemic, making TRA quality standards during the current pandemic. Achieving this
the first government entity in the region to obtain this certificate. international certificate confirms TRA’s success in applying the
Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA Director General, received the best international standards to provide a safe workplace for its
125 SEP-OCT 2020