Page 94 - SAMENA Trends - January 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

service, ensuring fair competition, and balancing the diverse and data with increased speeds and data capacity, free services,
needs of multiple stakeholders,” the report highlighted. Today, expanded spectrum use, and enhanced network configurations
CITC is delivering on its vision by working to create a robust and connectivity. "This rapid response played a critical role
regulatory platform within which government and businesses in enabling remote work, business continuity, delivery apps,
can safely operate and invest, the ITU report stressed. The CITC e-government services, and remote learning across Saudi Arabia,
has achieved success against the challenges and overcoming the ITU report highlighted. CITC is placing a strong emphasis on
them through a world-class mature and ambitious strategy sustainability through the inclusion of ITU’s global standards
to realize the shift towards a regulator regulatory, the report on sustainability within its core objectives. As it continues to hit
elaborated. Following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic milestone after milestone, CITC is well on its way to becoming
in the Kingdom, the CITC collaborated quickly and effectively with one of the world’s most developed 5th-generation regulators, the
telecom operators to meet the surge in demand for online access report added. (January 12, 2021) saudigazette.com.sa

Sri Lanka

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka
(TRCSL) has sought public feedback on the proposed number (TRCSL) has published a public consultation to seek feedback on
portability services in Sri Lanka. The TRCSL said a public its proposed mobile number portability (MNP) plans, the Colombo
consultation paper has been published as the mandatory next Gazette reports. TRCSL’s consultation is the next step mandated
step for the implementation of number portability services in the in Sri Lanka’s plan to introduce number portability and invites
country. The public can obtain further information in this regard comments and views from the industry, academia, and other
by downloading the consultation paper from the TRCSL's official parties who are interested regarding its proposed implementation
website. The public consultation paper invites comments and in telecoms networks in the country. As previously reported by
views from the industry, academia, and other parties who are CommsUpdate, in August 2020 TRCSL put in place ‘preliminary
interested regarding the proposed implementation of number measures’ to usher in MNP. Using its Twitter platform, the regulator
portability in telecommunication networks of Sri Lanka. The confirmed: ‘TRC initiates preliminary steps on implementing
TRCSL said in August 2020, that it was looking at introducing number portability which would enable consumers to select
number portability, which is the ability of telephone subscribers to service providers without change of existing mobile numbers’.
switch between service providers or locations while retaining their TeleGeography notes that progress towards making MNP a reality
original telephone numbers. It said prior to switching operators, in Sri Lanka has been tortuously slow. It was back in 2008/09 that
subscribers need to be completely aware of the services offered the TRCSL first began studying the possibility of introducing MNP,
by the new operator and the terms and conditions of the new while in April 2010 the regulator issued a Terms of Reference
contract. This is because only the number is retained and not the (TOF) inviting consulting firms to assist in the establishment of
services or tariff plan given by the existing service provider for that the necessary regulatory framework. Subsequently, in February
number. The TRCSL is expecting public feedback on the 7-point 2014 the then director-general Anusha Palpita was quoted as
public consultation paper by 12 February 2021. The public have saying that MNP implementation remained suspended as it
been urged to send in their feedback to the official address of the would not be cost-effective until there is a greater proportion
TRCSL in Colombo 8 or via its official e-mail. of post-paid subscribers in the market. The TRCSL is expecting
(January 19, 2021) menafn.com public feedback on the seven-point public consultation paper by
12 February 2021.
(January 18, 2021) commsupdate.com

Syria

The Syrian Telecom Regulatory Authority (SyTRA) has fully day, through a combination of grid power, batteries, solar energy
restored mobile coverage along the Hama-Aleppo road. and local generators. Separately, meanwhile, the MoCT notes
According to the Ministry of Communication and Technology that roaming agreements with Turkish mobile operator Turkcell
(MoCT), the watchdog carried out works along the highway after have been cancelled, accusing the provider of violating the ITU’s
it was secured by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) to ensure that the instructions regarding cellular coverage.
40 base stations serving the area are able to operate 24 hours a (January 15, 2021) commsupdate.com

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