Page 96 - SAMENA Trends - August-September 2025

REGUL
REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATESATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

A SNAPSHOT OF REGULATORY ACTIVITIES

IN THE SA-ME-NA REGION

Bahrain

Bahrain has unveiled a national policy promoting the responsible trust, fostering a sustainable digital society, and systematically
and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI), alongside the integrating AI into public services to improve performance and
adoption of the GCC Guiding Manual on the Ethical Use of AI. service delivery. It targets government officials, service developers,
The initiative aligns with directives from Interior Minister and decision-makers, academics, researchers, and beneficiaries of
ICT committee chairman General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al smart government solutions. Key pillars include legal compliance,
Khalifa. The Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) CEO promoting AI adoption in government, workforce empowerment
Mohammed Al Qaed highlighted that the policy, available at www. with AI skills, and strengthening partnerships to drive innovation.
iga.gov.bh, aims to harness AI for economic and social growth, The GCC Guiding Manual complements the policy by emphasizing
enhance government efficiency, and ensure AI applications shared regional values such as respect for human dignity, Islamic
adhere to national and international ethical and legal standards. principles, national identity, sustainability, cooperation, and human
The framework supports Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 and the well-being. It is built upon four ethical principles: safeguarding
Sustainable Development Goals. The policy enforces compliance human autonomy, ensuring safety and harm prevention, promoting
with key laws, including the Personal Data Protection Law, State fairness and equality, and protecting privacy and data integrity. Al
Documents Protection Law, Open Data Policy, and the GCC ethical Qaed noted that this combined policy and ethical charter forms a
AI guidelines. It also emphasizes government efforts to train and solid foundation for responsible AI governance, supporting digital
empower public sector employees, particularly in critical sectors transformation, public confidence, and sustainable innovation in
like health, education, and public services, to responsibly utilize AI Bahrain.
technologies. The national framework focuses on increasing public (August 4, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com

Bangladesh

Leaders of Bangladesh's telecommunications sector have concerns are not resolved, we will be forced to take recourse to the
warned that the government's proposed new telecom policy law," he told journalists. IGW operators' leader Asif Rabbani echoed
could undermine domestic entrepreneurs, create monopolies the warning, saying, "We will appeal directly to the Chief Adviser to
favoring large or foreign operators, and put local investors in accept our demands if they are found reasonable."
harm's way. They urged immediate revision of several clauses of (September 15, 2025) www.thefinancialexpress.com.bd
the draft policy, threatening legal action if their demands is not
addressed. The concerns were raised at a discussion meeting The government has introduced a new Quality of Service (QoS)
titled "New Telecom Policy: Questioning the Existence of Domestic benchmark for Bangladesh’s telecom sector, raising the minimum
Entrepreneurs", organized by the Telecom Reporters Network 4G download speed requirement to 10 Mbps from the 7 Mbps
Bangladesh (TRNB) at Mohakhali in Dhaka. The meeting was set in 2018. The new framework, approved by the Bangladesh
attended by leaders of the Internet Service Providers Association Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), takes effect
of Bangladesh (ISPAB), International Internet Gateway (IIG) Forum, on September 1 and aims to improve both mobile and internet
Interconnection Exchange (ICX) operators, International Gateway services nationwide. While the revised speed requirement is
(IGW) operators, and the NTTN Operators Forum (NOF), alongside lower than the 15 Mbps proposed earlier this year, it also sets
representatives from the Association of IP Telephony Operators a minimum upload speed of 2 Mbps. For the first time, the QoS
of Bangladesh (AIOB). Speaking at the meeting, ISPAB President framework will extend beyond mobile operators to cover National
Aminul Hakim congratulated the government on its initiative to Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) operators
update telecom regulations but insisted that five clauses in the and internet service providers (ISPs). The guidelines also impose
policy needed urgent amendment to safeguard domestic investors. strict rules on call quality. Call setup success rates must stay at
"We hope today's discussion will convey a clear message to the 99% nationwide, while call drop rates on 2G networks must not
government. We are ready to engage constructively, but if our exceed 1% nationally. For 4G, connection success must reach

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