Page 163 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

more,” he said. Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, in 6G is the patents held related to the standards, and said, "With
Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan also gave a speech. Sayan, stating that the this vision, we will continue to work as a group that is ready to
communication sector is undergoing a rapid change, said that they make 6G patents in our local, national and R&D studies."
prioritize locality and nationality in the communication ecosystem. (September 19, 2022) www.btk.gov.tr
Sayan stated that apart from physical products, the biggest capital

United Arab Emirates

UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory organizations improve their own performance and objectives
Authority (TDRA) announced the launch of the 800 Toll-free as well as develop their respective human resources. TDRA will
Number Portability service from one service provider to another, utilize the integrated services provided by the EFQM to better
while ensuring that the number remains the same. The move is to equip its own teams to drive excellence and cultural change and
enhance competition between the telecom service providers, and transformation, thereby delivering performance improvements
expanding the range of options for customers.The new service and benefits to TDRA, its staff and clients. Commenting on this
gives companies that have been assigned a toll-free number membership, H.E. Mohammad Al Kitbi, Deputy Director General
the option to retain the number and change the service provider, of the Support Services Sector at TDRA, said: “TDRA is keen to
allowing them to experience services provided by both telecom establish partnerships and cooperate with key leading global
providers in the UAE without the need to change the free phone organizations in various related work areas, with the aim of
number used by the company. TDRA had launched the Fixed sharing success stories, conducting benchmarks, and utilizing
Number Portability service in 2021, where more than 12,000 fixed the latest global managerial/administrative and occupational/
numbers have been ported between service providers since the professional systems in the development of TDRA's ways and
service release. The Fixed Number Portability service and Toll- methods of work, in addition to cadre qualification and training.”
free Number Portability service are a continuation of the Mobile His Excellency added: TDRA’s membership in the EFQM will give
Number Portability service launched by TDRA in 2013, through us an opportunity to access the updated EFQM 2020 Model to
which more than 2 million numbers were ported. Commenting on develop work mechanisms and implement best international
these services, Eng. Mohammed Al Ramsi, TDRA Deputy Director practices across all our operations. The EFQM Excellence Model
General for the Telecom Sector, said: “Through the launch of the aligns with our commitment to consolidate TDRA’s pioneering
number portability service in its mobile, fixed and toll-free forms, position comprehensively. For us all at TDRA, excellence is a
we aim to enhance competition between service providers to daily work program that we pursue according to specific and
provide the best services and offers.” TDRA highlighted that well-thought-out strategies and plans, in which all our staff carry
number portability requires the customer to follow certain steps, them out in a positive work environment that raises individual and
including paying the bills due with the current service provider, and corporate efficiency and institutionalizes a culture of excellence
the number must not be partially or fully disconnected. After the based on total quality management and sustainable excellence
porting process is completed, the customer will be given a grace standards, bringing happiness to customers and society as a
period for settling his/her contractual financial obligations and whole.” The EFQM is an innovative, not-for-profit organization,
paying the applicable due fees. (October 30, 2022) www.khaleejtimes.com fusing data-driven insights, curated learning and development
and networking opportunities for the benefit of organizations and
The Telecommunications & Digital Government Regulatory individuals worldwide. EFQM aids stakeholders to grow, improve
Authority (TDRA) attained membership in the European Foundation work methods and follow a common management philosophy
for Quality Management (EFQM), through which TDRA will support among thousands of people all around the world.
the implementation of EFQM’s leading approach, aimed at enabling (September 14, 2022) www.tdra.gov.ae

Yemen

Yemen’s Sana’a-based Houthi government has announced the in Amran. Saba News writes that the projects will cost around
launch of several projects aimed at expanding and developing the YER4 billion (USD16 million), although no specific details of the
communications infrastructure of several state-owned entities programmes were published. Unveiling the projects, Minister for
in Amran governorate, namely: fixed line operator the Public Telecommunications and ICT Misfer al-Numair was cited as saying
Telecommunications Company (PTC); mobile provider Yemen that the investment would improve communications services for
Mobile Company; and the General Institute for Telecommunications everyone in the province. (September 26, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

163 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022