Page 69 - SAMENA Trends - September 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY NEWS

TRA Issues the First License to Execute Trust and e-Signature Service to

BENEFIT Company

In light of supporting the digital Manager for Information Technology, Mr. many future applications." Al-Maraj added.
transformation strategy in the Kingdom Riyadh Al-Maraj said, "We are pleased that Trust and e-signature services come
of Bahrain, the Telecommunications BENEFIT Company is the first entity in the within the package of servicers as per the
Regulatory Authority issues the first license Kingdom of Bahrain to obtain a license legislations and laws of the Kingdom of
to execute e-signature and trust services, for trust services and e-signature, after Bahrain in accordance with the provisions
to BENEFIT Company at the beginning of passing the standards and specifications of Articles (20) and (21) of the Electronic
August. On this occasion, TRA’s Director for providing the service according to the Communications and Transactions Law.
of Cyber Security & Technical Affairs Eng. regulations issued by TRA." "BENEFIT E-signature services allow conducting
Mohamed Alnoaimi said “Through licensing has invested in establishing an advanced and signing transactions electronically
trust and e-signature services, TRA seeks technical infrastructure according to the and remotely, and promoting and adopting
to keep pace with the latest technologies very best international practices to meet e-signatures as a safe and reliable method
and developments to carry out its tasks the requirements of this license, which we when conducting transactions and
and perform its duties to achieve the look forward to opening wide doors for services electronically.
strategy of the digital transformation. The
e-signature service is the latest initiative
of TRA in this field. The increased use of
"e-signature" will help to enhance the
efficiency of administrative work and
the level of performance of government
and private services in accordance with
the rapid technological trends." Alnoaimi
stressed on TRA’s commitment to
assessing all systems and processes on a
periodic basis to ensure their contribution
to fulfilling the needs of residents while
preserving all parties' rights. TRA also
supports initiatives that promote the
adoption of latest developments and
technologies that improve high quality
of service. BENEFIT’s Assistant General

GSMA Renews Calls for Digital Divide Action

Industry association GSMA kept up It noted in a statement this so-called action” by governments and the industry
pressure for action to address a global usage gap is a “far bigger challenge” than to bridge the digital divide. The GSMA also
digital divide despite revealing the coverage alone, citing factors including released a report covering sub-Saharan
proportion of mobile internet users broke a lack of digital literacy and skills, and Africa which found 495 million people
through the 50 per cent mark for the first device costs as barriers to use. “Mobile subscribed to mobile services by the end
time during 2020. In its newly-released is the primary and often the only way to of 2020, up by almost 20 million on 2019.
State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2021 access the internet in low- and middle- Adoption of 4G recorded an uptake while
report, the GSMA estimated 51 per cent income countries. While more people than 3G growth was slowing rapidly. The GSMA
used mobile internet in 2020 compared with ever are now using the mobile internet, called for governments and regulators
49 per cent in 2019. But, while hailing the some fundamental barriers stop far too to ensure there is enough spectrum for
achievement, it noted 3.8 billion still lacked many people from using” it, GSMA chief mobile services and to open mid-band
access, despite the majority (3.4 billion) regulatory officer John Giusti explained. frequencies for future rollouts of 5G.
living in areas with suitable coverage. He called for “targeted and collaborative

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