Page 99 - SAMENA Trends - July-September 2024

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Turkey

Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dr. Ömer Fatih reached 562 thousand kilometers and the number of fiber
Sayan attended the 16th Huawei User Group Meeting and made broadband subscribers has increased by an average of 20%
important statements. The meeting held in Istanbul brought annually, reaching 6.7 million. Deputy Minister Sayan stated
together 500 telecommunications industry professionals from that Turkey was the first country to implement 4.5G wireless
more than 40 countries and 70 carriers. Deputy Minister Sayan, in networks in 2016 and is currently preparing for 5.5G, planning
his speech, drew attention to the fact that our world is changing to directly establish 5.5G networks in 2026. He said that with
rapidly and that connectivity is of vital importance to everyone. this new technology, users will experience 5 to 10 times better
Stating that information and communication technologies are speed with faster data transmission and lower latency, and that
present in every aspect of our lives today, Sayan emphasized the digital transformation of thousands of sectors in Turkey will
that approximately 5 billion people worldwide use internet be made possible. Deputy Minister Sayan stated that Huawei has
technologies. Deputy Minister Sayan stated that the Ministry supported the advancement of national science and technology,
has made a great contribution to Turkey’s development and the prosperity of the industrial ecosystem, the cultivation of new
progress by investing 275 billion dollars in the transport and talents, and the evolution of advanced networks such as 4.5G and
communication infrastructure in the last 21 years, and that the 5.5G by working together with Turkey over the last decade, and
total number of fixed and mobile broadband internet subscribers expressed their appreciation for Huawei's "In Turkey, for Turkey"
has reached 93.3 million. He added that the fiber length has strategy. (July 4, 2024) www.btk.gov.tr

United Arab Emirates

The Telecommunications & Digital Government Regulatory by the UAE in the UN E-Government Survey 2024, which reflects
Authority (TDRA) announced that the UAE has achieved the efforts of various federal and local government entities, saying,
outstanding results in a number of indicators related to “With these results, the UAE has established a new milestone in its
government and digital services as per the United Nations journey towards a brighter future, led by President His Highness
E-Government Survey 2024, which focuses on the role of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh
governments in accelerating digital transformation and artificial Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister
intelligence for sustainable development, and providing services and Ruler of Dubai, along with the government. Today, we reap
that enhance the quality of life of community members. The the rewards of a track record of efforts and achievements by the
report announced by the United Nations Department of Economic minds of the people of this generous country, in order to solidify
and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) indicated that the UAE ranks first the foundations of a digital knowledge society and economy,
globally in the Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (TII), with leveraging cutting-edge technologies, particularly AI and other
a full score of 100 per cent. The report also indicates that the UAE transformative technologies”. For his part, Eng. Majed Sultan
advanced 34 points in the Human Capital Index (HCI), moving from Al Mesmar, Director-General of TDRA, stressed that the UAE’s
44th to 10th place, and getting placed first in Asia and the Arab keenness to develop the ICT sector stems from the vision of the
world in this index. This result reflects the considerable efforts wise leadership that this sector is the backbone of development
made towards national competencies in the UAE, and provide and driver for all other sectors. He said, “When it comes to global
them with the necessary skills to navigate the era of accelerated competitiveness and sustainable development strategies, the
digital transformation and technological shifts. The report Telecommunication infrastructure Index stands out as one of
pointed out that the UAE belongs to the top-rated countries in the most important pillars as it reflects the level of progress of
the E-Government Development Index (EGDI), which constitutes countries in employing future technologies to create the desired
the general framework for a set of criteria. The UAE achieved a future.” “We are proud that the results of this index placed the UAE
score of 95 per cent, and advanced two places from what it had at the forefront of the global scene, and we are reaping the fruits
achieved in the previous assessment in 2022; thus, maintaining of a long journey of pioneer ship, effective strategies, insightful
its position on the list of most developed countries in the world. vision and joint efforts. Today, the UAE has become an inspiring
Among the results of the report are also the UAE’s full score in the story in the systematic digital transformation, which supports
e-government literacy (EGL) index, and the world’s first full score the digital economy and smart cities based on the principles of
in the content provisioning and institutional framework standards, inclusive government, customer centricity, business continuity
which are two sub-indices of the Online Service Index (OSI). Talal and proactivity. If these results have put us on the top globally, we
Belhoul Al Falasi, Chairman of TDRA, praised the results achieved see this as an important incentive for us to continue to implement

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