Page 92 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023
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REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES  SAMENA TRENDS



        goal  of  enhancing  fixed  telecommunications  networks.  It   responsibility of operating the existing fixed telecommunications
        encompasses  various  facets,  including  the  design,  financing,   network  associated  with  the  Ministry  of  Transportation,  with  a
        construction, operation, maintenance, and transfer of ownership   focus on  its  improvement  and  expansion  into  regions  that  are
        of  the  fixed  telecommunications  network  within  the  State  of   currently underserved.
        Kuwait.  Furthermore,  the  project  company is  entrusted  with  the   (December 25, 2023) www.zawya.com





                                                                                                          Nepal



        The  Nepal  Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has  revoked   days. Axiata announced on 1 December that it had entered into an
        the  Rural  Telephone Service license  held  by CG  Telecom,  after   unconditional agreement with Spectrlite UK for the sale of Reynolds
        the  latter  failed  to apply  for the  renewal  of its  concession.  CG   Holding,  which  controls  the  Malaysian  telecommunications
        Telecom –  part  of Nepalese  conglomerate  Chaudhary  Group –   group’s equity stake in Ncell Axiata. The UK-registered purchasing
        has held a mobile license since May 2017, but has been thwarted   company reportedly belongs to Satish Lal Acharya, a Singapore-
        by the watchdog at every turn and has been unable to progress   based businessman of Nepalese origin. The remaining 20% stake
        to a  commercial  launch.  The  development  coincides  with  the   in the Nepalese telco is held by Sunivera Capital Ventures, owned
        NTA’s revocation of ISP licenses held by United Telecom Limited   by his wife Bhavana Singh Shrestha. Local media sources claim
        (UTL), Max Net Solution and Chitwan Network. UTL, which became   the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) was not informed
        Nepal’s first privately owned telco in July 2003, was previously one   of  the  deal,  despite  the Telecommunication  Act  1997 making  it
        of the country’s most notable players, before running into financial   mandatory for a licensed company to obtain prior approval for the
        difficulties.  As  such,  its  license  revocation  feels  like  more  of  a   sale or purchase of more than 5% of its capital. Following a request
        formality. (December 21, 2023) www.commsupdate.com     for information, Ncell advised the regulator earlier this week that
                                                               it was assembling documents relating to the sale and purchase
        The  Public  Accounts  Committee  (PAC)  of  Nepal’s  House  of   agreement and would submit these for approval. ‘Non-compliance
        Representatives  has  ordered  the  government  to  halt  Axiata’s   of legal provisions, unrealistically maintained very low value of the
        efforts to sell Ncell Axiata until a detailed investigation into the   shares,  efforts made  to avoid  paying  capital gains tax,  bringing
        matter  has  been  completed. Describing  the  process  to sell  the   uncertainty  to  government  ownership  of  the  company after  six
        80% stake in the Nepalese telco as suspicious, non-transparent   years, and  spreading  misinformation about Nepal’s  investment
        and  unrealistic,  the  parliamentary body instructed  government   climate suggest the transactions are suspicious, non-transparent
        agencies  to conclude an independent  investigation  within  30   and unreal,’ the PAC’s decision states. (December 8, 2023) The Kathmandu Post





                                                                                                      Pakistan



        The  Pakistan  Telecommunication Authority  (PTA)  has  issued   the strategy emphasizes a multi-stakeholder approach, fostering
        its  Cyber Security Strategy  for  Pakistan's  Telecom Sector, a   active collaboration between public and private sectors, regulatory
        comprehensive  and  ambitious  plan  set  to  span  from 2023  to   bodies, telecom operators, private security firms, academia, and
        2028.  This  strategy  is  a  significant  step  in  the  implementation   civil society. This inclusive strategy aims to create a united and
        of  the  National  Cyber  Security  Policy  -  2021,  and  marks  a   comprehensive front against cyber threats. PTA is dedicated to
        monumental stride  towards  bolstering  digital  security  in  the   progressively  enhance  the  cyber security  posture  of Pakistan’s
        country’s rapidly evolving telecom sector. The strategy is built on   telecom sector over the next five years. This initiative is not just a
        six foundational pillars, each targeting a specific aspect of cyber   step forward in cybersecurity but it is also a leap towards a more
        security, such as  legal  framework,  cyber  resilience,  proactive   digitally secure and resilient Pakistan. The strategy is available at
        monitoring and incident response, capacity building, cooperation   https://pta.gov.pk/en/media-center/single-media/cyber-security-
        and collaboration, and public awareness. Collectively, these pillars   strategy-for-telecom-sector-2023-2028-121223.
        represent  a holistic  approach, ensuring  a resilient  and  secure   (December 12, 2023) www.pta.gov.pk
        digital infrastructure across Pakistan's telecom sector. At its core,







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