Page 102 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

and Saudi Arabia. Netherlands is the sixth on the list, followed The relevance category examines the presence and “extent of
by Australia, Canada, Bulgaria, and Norway. France is 25th on local language content and relevant content.” It ranked 72nd
the list, while the US is 33rd and the UK is 54th. Algeria ranks globally out of 100 countries due to a “dearth of relevant content.”
130th, while Tunisia is 68th. South Africa ranks 55th. Morocco According to the index, the affordability ranking in Morocco is also
has few telecommunication operators, including Maroc Telecom, low. The list puts Morocco 66th out of 100. The category reviews
Orange, and Inwi. The three operators offer internet data for the “cost of access relative to income and the level of competition
customers. Morocco also ranked 62nd out of 100 countries in in the internet marketplace.” Morocco ranked 65th in readiness,
the 2019 Inclusive Internet Index. The index scores 100 countries which examines “the capacity to access the Internet, including
on availability, affordability, relevance, and readiness of internet skills, cultural acceptance, and supporting policy.” Morocco’s
connectivity. Out of the four categories, the country ranked best, National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) said
47th globally, in availability. The availability category indicates that the number of internet subscribers in the country amounted
the quality and breadth of available infrastructure for access to 25.38 million in 2019. The agency recorded an 11.43% increase
and levels of internet usage. The report, however, indicates that in internet subscriptions in 2019, representing a 2.6% growth from
Morocco has a low rating for “service quality of internet.” The 2018. ANRT also recorded an increase of 11.22% in 2019, a growth
data shows the country also scored low in the “relevance” criteria. of 2.21% compared to 2018. (August 30, 2020) moroccoworldnews.com

Nepal

Radio Frequency Policy Determination Committee has decided to band for Ncell. While awarding the frequency, NTA put several
provide 5MHz additional frequency bandwidth in 1800 MHz band conditions to Ncell for 4G expansion. As per the decision, Nepal
to Nepal Telecom. Earlier, the telecom operator had been lobbying Telecom also has to pay the same 5 crores and 80 lakhs per MHz
for the same spectrum. The committee under the Ministry of frequency, if the company want to get that chunk of the frequency
Communication and Information technology (MoCIT) is also band. Whereas the company was lobbying to get the spectrum at
headed by the Minister himself. Whereas other members are the their own bidding price. But Nepal Telecommunication Authority
secretary from the Home Ministry, Defense Ministry, Tourism recommended the price of the frequency in this band to be the
Ministry, and MoCIT. Nepal Telecom currently holds 15 MHz same as that of Ncell’s highest bid price.
bandwidth in the 1800 MHz. After the addition of 5 MHz, the total (August 8, 2020) nepalitelecom.com
frequency bandwidth becomes 20 MHz, which is the upper ceiling
for any operator to hold in that spectrum band as per frequency The Nepalese government’s Finance Bill for fiscal year 2020/21
policy. Similarly, Ncell already holds the 20 MHz that they could extended the ‘mobile ownership fee’ to new post-paid SIMs and
get from spectrum auction. Earlier there was a 16 MHz residual recharge cards with effect from 16 July. The 2% tax previously
spectrum in 1800 MHz band, among which Ncell got contiguous applied only to pre-paid SIM cards, while a one-time fee of
9 MHz bandwidth from the auction. NTA also performed the NPR500 (USD4.13) was levied on post-paid SIM purchases. In
spectrum refarming in the 1800 MHz band to make the continuous addition to the ownership tax, mobile recharges are also subject
spectrum possible. Ncell’s bid price of 1 MHz was Rs 5 crore to a 13% telecommunication service fee and 13% VAT.
and 80 lakhs, which was now the price of the frequency in this (August 3, 2020) Nepal Post Daily

Oman

The Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) in Oman has made a Oman’s Telecommunication Regulation Authority has issued a
statement on the automatic renewal of value-added services. new directive to ensure all telecom companies operating in the
“In case you do not want to renew the subscribed service country continue to remain competitive, so that any one company
automatically, be sure to choose the subscription for one time does not get an unfair advantage over the others. Mohammed Al
only, and the company has no right then to renew that service Rumhi, the chairman of the board of directors of the TRA, issued
automatically,” TRA said. One of the conditions for participation in Decision No. 59/2020, amending provisions to the existing
value-added services is that the company sends a secret number Resolution Number 70/2013, regarding the rules for market
and the subscriber must enter the number to ensure the approval regulation and behavior that goes against the efforts of ensuring
and validity of the subscription, it added. it remains competitive. “The authority, on its own initiative, or
(August 2, 2020) omanobserver.om based on complaints submitted by a concerned party, may initiate
investigations to ensure the actions or activities of the licensee

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