Page 105 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Saudi telecoms regulator the Communications and IT Commission access rights, award mechanisms, spectrum utilization, spectrum
(CITC) has launched a public consultation on its plans to release licensees, competition and complementarity of technologies, and
more than 10GHz of additional radio spectrum across a wide fair access to adjacent sectors. Interested parties are given until
range of frequency bands by 2024. CITC is seeking opinions on a 27 September 2020 to submit their comments.
number of topics, including frequency bands, licensing regimes, (July 29, 2020) commsupdate.com

Sri Lanka

The Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has begun subscribers switched to postpaid plans, arguing that MNP would
“preliminary measures” aimed at introducing nationwide mobile not be cost-effective with a majority of prepaid subscribers.
number portability (MNP). Announcing the move on Twitter, the At the time, Palpita said: “The main beneficiary of [MNP] and
regulator said: “TRC initiates preliminary steps on implementing those demanding it [will be] post-paid mobile subscribers. In Sri
number portability which would enable consumers to select Lanka’s case, however, we have less than 10% of the total mobile
service providers without change of existing mobile numbers.” subscriber population owning a post-paid mobile connection.
TRCSL neglected to provide an estimated timeframe for the Therefore, in my opinion implementation of MNP will not be cost-
move, and TeleGeography reports that the pace of introducing effective at the moment.” Another factor that has deterred TCRSL
MNP to Sri Lanka could be described as glacial. The regulator from pushing ahead with MNP is the implementation costs, as it
first considered the idea in 2008 before asking for consulting fears that operators would attempt to pass these on to their user
firms for input on the required regulations in 2010. Thereafter, bases. This would disproportionately affect prepaid subscribers
little was said on the matter until early 2014, when TCRSL’s then- who were not benefitting from the service.
director general Anusha Palpita stated that MNP had effectively (August 25, 2020) developingtelecoms.com
been shelved until a larger percentage of Sri Lanka’s mobile

Turkey

Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dr. Ömer Fatih carrying out from the past to the present, targeting the supply and
Sayan attended the Informatics 500 Ceremony held digitally. Sayan demand side needs of the sector on these issues, "he said.
drew attention to the importance of indigenization in informatics. (August 27, 2020) btk.gov.tr
Due to successful IT companies award this year Turkey pandemic,
it took delivery of programs arranged in digital media. Speaking Turkish mobile and fixed network operator Turkcell disclosed
at the opening of the ceremony, Deputy Minister Dr. Ömer Fatih on its investor website that the Information & Communication
Sayan stated that they are very proud of the achievements of Technologies Authority (Bilgi Teknolojileri ve Iletisim Kurumu, BTK)
IT companies. In recent years, Turkey in almost history written has approved two share transfer transactions required to complete
evaluation with local and national technology Sayan, "about ten the multi-stage ownership deal agreed in June 2020 which will
of growth statistics in the field of informatics countries worldwide result in the state-owned Turkey Wealth Fund (TWF) becoming
economic growth rate floor. While in worldwide economic growth the company’s largest shareholder. The dual transactions will
average in recent years 3,5 and 4 percent this rate "It is about 4 to redistribute the existing 51% stake currently registered to joint
5 in developing countries and around 22 in developed countries. venture Turkcell Holding: 26.2% will be transferred to a new
As the Ministry, we attach great importance to investments in controlling shareholder, Turkiye Varlik Fonu Bilgi Teknolojileri
technology, digitalization and human resources, and we conduct Iletişim Hizmetleri Yatirim Sanayi ve Ticaret (TWF), and the other
research in this context." Stating that they have carried out many 24.8% will be moved to IMTIS Holdings (a unit of LetterOne).
studies for the components of our growth and development Turkcell noted that the process for the respective transactions is
strategy as a country, Sayan said, "Within the framework of ongoing. In June, TWF agreed to take a 26.2% stake in Turkcell
this vision, first of all, establishing an effective competitive by purchasing Telia Company’s entire 24.0% indirect stake and
environment, making technological products and infrastructure a 2.2% tranche from Cukurova Group, with the latter agreeing to
accessible at reasonable prices, supporting domestic production, sell its other remaining 11.6% to existing shareholder LetterOne
improving cyber security capacity, big data analytics, artificial (making LetterOne the second largest Turkcell parent with 24.8%
intelligence and We care about the creation of added value of equity).
through machine learning. We continue the work we have been (August 24, 2020) commsupdate.com

105 AUGUST 2020