Page 146 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

ITU to Promote Internet Connectivity in Rural Nigeria

An agency of the United Nations, the is connected, especially for rural women the girl child in the ICT sector by organizing
International Telecommunications that are producing most of the foods that trainings, and also curb gender-based
Union (ITU), is to partner the Ministry of we eat. “We have discovered that 70 per violence. During the event, Executive
Communications and Digital Economy cent of Africa’s foods are produced by Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian
to promote Internet connectivity in rural rural women but only 34 per cent of them Communications Commission (NCC),
Nigeria. This was disclosed at an event use the Internet. These women need to be Umar Danbatta, prompted farmers to use
organized by Women in Technology connected,” she said. Bogdan-Martin noted technology to improve agriculture, create
in Nigeria (WITIN) to commemorate that farmers can use technology to monitor employment, and boost production. “Today,
International Women’s Day, 2022. The crops, predict weather conditions, and the telecommunications industry plays
recently appointed Secretary-General of fight pests. She added that collaborating a crucial role in providing the requisite
the ITU, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, stated with the government’s agency will enable support for the diversification of the
that only a few rural parts of Africa are rural women have Internet access in order economy through improving the knowledge
online, noting it is essential for women in to enhance their productivity. Founder of economy using ICT as an enabler. It has
pastoral areas to be linked to the Internet. WITIN, Martha Alade, said technology is enhanced human capabilities in areas
“We are working with Nigeria’s Ministry of a vital tool in the agricultural sector from such as health, education, agriculture,
Communications and Digital Economy to the farm to the market. Alade affirmed finance, transportation, commerce, and
connect Nigerian rural women. We want to that WITIN will continue to aid agricultural governance,” he said.
make sure that every rural area in Nigeria research, provide information to include

Thailand Approves Landmark Merger

Thailand’s telecoms regulator gave the of around 55.5 per cent based on its Q3
green light to a proposed merger of True estimates. In addition, the NBTC will require
Corp and dtac nearly a year after the tie-up the new operator to provide third-party
was first mooted, but added a number of verification of its cost structure and fees for
conditions to the controversial deal aimed at least five years, and break out voice, data
at protecting consumers. The National and messaging tariffs separately based on
Broadcasting and Telecommunications average-cost pricing, the newspaper wrote.
Commission (NBTC) approved the deal The merger will reduce the number of
after first confirming it had the power to major mobile players in Thailand to two and
make a decision on the merger, Bangkok faced resistance from some NBTC board
Post reported. Thailand’s regulator members, opposition political party Move
imposed a price cap and controls on the Forward, the Thailand Consumer Council
combined entity, which GSMA Intelligence and current market leader AIS. NBTC began
figures showed would have a market share reviewing the proposed tie-up in February.

EU Targets Device Security with Draft Legislation

Manufacturers of all manner of connected Internal Market, highlighted many hardware revenue, whichever is higher. Companies
devices could face penalties of up to and software products are not subject to could also be fined up to €10 million or 2 per
€15 million if they fail to comply with any security requirements. “When it comes cent of revenue for less serious violations,
new cybersecurity rules proposed by to cybersecurity, Europe is only as strong as while those providing “incorrect, incomplete
the European Commission (EC). The its weakest link, be it a vulnerable member or misleading” information could face
Commission published a draft of the state, or an unsafe product along the supply penalties of up to €5 million or 1 per cent of
Cyber Resilience Act which aims to boost chain.” Breton noted any unsecured device, revenue. The European Parliament and the
the security of connected devices and ranging from computers and smartphones Council will now examine the draft Cyber
software sold throughout the European to toys and cars, “is a potential entry point Resilience Act. Once adopted, companies
Union. Notably, manufacturers will be for a cyberattack”. Penalties for violations and member states will have two years to
forced to take responsibility for the security of the new rules will be harsh, with fines adapt to the new requirements.
of products through their entire life cycle. for the most serious breaches of up to
Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the €15 million or 2.5 per cent of global annual
146 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022