Page 138 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

As per the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the countries. It was learned that mobile data prices declined to only
achievement comes on the back of government policies, effective 0.70pc of the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita which is well
competition among telecom operators. PTA stated that in below the UN Broadband Commission’s recommendation of less
2012, there were less than 2 million subscriptions but after the than 2pc. PTA said that all four national Cellular Mobile Operators
introduction of 3G services, the figure jumped to 16 million in (CMOs), SCO, and fixed-line broadband operators including PTCL
2014 and 100 million in 2021. The telecom regulator informed that collectively have broadband subscriptions of over 100 million.
presently 87 percent of the country's population has access to Back in 2010, the Pakistan telecom sector reached 100 million
internet/broadband services at one of the lowest rates in the region. mobile subscriptions, it launched the first-ever biometrically
It informed that broadband is provided over 3G/4G networks with verified SIMs across the country in 2009 and implemented the
an average download speed of 17.7 Mbps and upload speed of 11.3 world’s first open-source DIRBS in 2019.
Mbps (mobile) which is above the speed levels in other regional (April 3, 2021) brecorder.com

Qatar

The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) published a future. The introduction of this technology will help support
public consultation on its website related to the Wireless Local many sectors in Qatar, including the education sector, especially
Area Network (Wi-Fi 6) and CRA's proposed policy for assigning with the current approach related to remote learning through the
the full frequency band (5925-7125 MHz) to this network with internet because of the conditions associated with the spread of
an aim of receiving the views and comments from the local and the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Moreover, this technology
international stakeholders and interested parties about CRA's will also support the mobile telecom market as a complementary
proposed decision. Wi-Fi 6 is one of the world's new and cutting- technology to the (5G) Networks, especially during Qatar's hosting
edge technologies, helping to address Internet data traffic of major events, including the FIFA World Cup - Qatar 2022," said
congestion issues caused by the connectivity of multiple devices CRA president Mohamed Ali al-Mannai. CRA has reviewed the
to the same Wi-Fi hub. This technology will enable consumers experiences and the policy statements of several countries in this
in Qatar to connect more devices to the Wi-Fi with high-speed regard, and found that some countries have decided to assign
Internet connectivity, which includes laptops, tablets, mobile the full frequency band to Wi-Fi 6 technology, such as the US, the
phones, and smart TV. Also, Wi-Fi 6 will enable different Internet Republic of South Korea, and others, while some other countries
of Things (IoT) applications and support innovative applications, have decided to assign part of the frequency band, such as the
such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and ultrahigh UK and a number of European countries. CRA's approach is based
definition video (Ultra HD). “CRA is one of the first regulators in on the investment of the full bandwidth (1200 MHz) in order to
the region and the world to announce clearly and transparently increase the Wi-Fi capacity and enhance the experience of the
its policy related to the frequency band for the Wi-Fi 6 technology, consumers in Qatar, to keep pace with the telecom infrastructure
as CRA is always keen to encourage the introduction of that is ready to accommodate this new technology, as the optical
advanced technologies to Qatar and keep its relevant regulatory fiber network covers around 99% of Qatar's households and this
instruments up to date to cover the new technologies and radio percentage is one of the highest worldwide.
communications applications, which will contribute to a better (March 23, 2021) gulf-times.com

Saudi Arabia

The telecom regulator CITC clarified that it had previously aim of strengthening the mechanisms for protecting beneficiaries
obligated all entities that fall under its regulatory powers, such and raising the level of service quality. It also emphasized that
as telecommunications and postal service providers, to provide each party has a responsibility to protect customers in the sector
a free contact number for customer service. This is in addition that falls under its supervision by obliging commercial companies
to establishing a special department to receive, manage and through provision of customer service via toll-free numbers.
handle beneficiary complaints by service providers, and to allow (May 5, 2021) saudigazette.com.sa
communication with the department and submit complaints
through all possible means either electronically or by phone or The Communications and Information Technology Commission
in person. The authority also instructed the companies to not (CITC) has issued its ‘3-year Outlook for Commercial and
obligate the beneficiary to have a lone way to file his complaint, and Innovative Use of the Spectrum in Saudi Arabia’, as part of
that access to these means shall be clear, easy and free, with the the National Spectrum Strategy. CITC is planning to allocate

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