Page 73 - SAMENA Trends - September 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

CEO of Huawei Bangladesh Taoguangyao and Country Manager The Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in
of LM Ericsson (Bangladesh) Abdus Salam were present at the a statement said it only approves the IP based data services
webinar and delivered speeches. TRNB President Rased Mehedi (Streaming Service, IP-TV, Video-on-Demand) for the licensed
presded over the webinar while its General Secretary Samir Kumar ISPs. Noting that the Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is the
Dey presented the keynote paper. Speaking on the occasion, BTRC process of broadcasting contents, aired on televisions, using
Chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder said the process of launching 5G the Internet Protocol Network, the statement said ISP operators
in the capital city by this year is at the final stage. To this end, approved by the BTRC for IPTV service could show the broadcasts
the state-owned mobile operator Teletalk has started taking of satellite TV channels approved by the Ministry of Information
preparations, he said, adding, “Works related to formulation of a and Broadcasting only to their subscribers through the Internet.
broadband policy is also underway. Before finalizing it, we will But required contract/approval/release paper must be taken from
sit down with all the stakeholders and their views will be taken”. the concerned institutions for the promotion of each channel or
BTRC Commissioner AKM Shahiduzzaman said the BTRC has program or content, it added. It has been noticed recently that
already formed a committee comprising operators, telecom sector some unscrupulous businessman is illegally displaying IPTV
stakeholders and law enforcement agencies on the 5G issue. Work to the public buying domains or through Facebook or YouTube
is underway to create a common guideline for mobile operators, channels, which are not legally approved, the statement said. Such
which will contribute to the mass adoption of 5G, he said, adding broadcasting without approval is "immoral and a violation of the
“BTRC is working on allocating waves at comparatively low prices Telecommunications Act", it said, adding the BTRC has already
in consideration of the standards followed by different countries stopped 59 unregistered illegal IPTV. The statement also said that
of the world. And any decision in this regard will be finalized in the ISPs licensed by the BTRC for the IP based data services are
consultation with the operators”. (September 25, 2021) risingbd.com not involved in such (illegal) activities. (September 20, 2021) bssnews.net

Egypt

Egypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has cables that will ensure youth can access the internet and thus the
inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Egyptian knowledge, training, and career opportunities offered by the digital
Competition Authority (ECA) to form a permanent joint committee world," he said. Internet penetration in Egypt was 57.3 per cent in
which will develop a system for regulating free competition in January 2021, according to Data Reportal. The country of 103.3
the Egyptian telecom market. Announcing the development in million had 95.75 million mobile phone users. Greater connectivity
a press release, the Ministry of Communications & Information in Egypt will also help the country's booming e-commerce sector
Technology (MCIT) said the cooperation between the two and mobile economy. The country has invested more than $2
bodies is designed to synergise their efforts at attracting more billion to increase average internet speeds in major cities to 42.5
investment, while integrating work mechanisms related to megabytes per second from 6.5 megabytes per second, in two
regulation and supervision. Further, the pair are aiming to ‘restrain years. "Africa is considered the youngest continent on the planet,
monopolies that may negatively affect the telecom services with about 60 per cent of its population under the age of 25. There
rendered to citizens’. According to the MCIT, the joint committee is no more urgent or important topic than youth empowerment,
will be responsible for developing frameworks for the cooperation entrepreneurship, and digital innovation," said Rania Al Mashat,
between the two sides and will work to open new markets in the the country's minister of international co-operation. "Creating a
telecoms sector and predict and prevent economic practices framework to support the young is vital; Africa’s future depends
leading to monopolies that may have negative effects on the on it," she said. Separately at the forum, Egyptian leaders stressed
market. Other mandates of the committee that were specifically the importance of implementing agri-tech solutions to guarantee
mentioned include the restricting of new regulations or policies the continent's food security. Ensuring food security is particularly
that may adversely affect competition in the sector. important for Egypt, which is the biggest wheat importer in the
(September 24, 2021) commsupdate.com world. "The work we have done with the World Food Program, and
how we have been able to work with farmers to move from more
Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, will connect more traditional ways of farming, from diesel-powered irrigation to
than 60 million people living in rural areas with high-speed internet, solar, is a great example of co-ordination between local agencies
according to the country's Communications and Information and international partners,” Ms. Al Mashat said. Calls for greater
Technology Minister. “We want to improve internet connectivity innovation in food security in Africa comes amid concerns that
for 60 million Egyptians living in about 4,500 villages by upgrading more than 100 million people on the continent face catastrophic
broadband infrastructure,” Amr Talaat said at the International Co- levels of food insecurity, exacerbated by the impact of the Covid
operation Forum in the capital Cairo. “We plan to invest more than 19 pandemic.
$360 million to connect one million households with fiber-optic (September 11, 2021) thenationalnews.com

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