Page 70 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

RIPE NCC and TRA Oman Host Capacity-Building Workshop in Muscat

The Réseaux IP Européens Network Co- country in the region to have started the Manager at the RIPE NCC, said: “At RIPE
ordination Centre (RIPE NCC) and the implementation of IPv6 following Saudi NCC, it is our privilege to partner with TRA
Telecommunication Regulatory Authority Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Oman and jointly organise such training
(TRA) in Oman has joined forces to Eng. Mohammed Al-Kindy, Vice President, activities. We would like to extend our
host a three-day training workshop as TRA Oman, said: “Hosting the three- appreciation to them for helping make
part of their collaboration on capacity day workshop at our training center was the sessions possible. The success of
development. Held in Oman’s capital critical to expanding Internet connectivity these activities in Oman shows that
city, the event was organized to build in the country. Efforts toward this direction Oman’s Telecom and Internet sector
the capacities of local stakeholders and have been in full swing in Oman and we is fully committed to furthering their
assist them in the development of the seek to fast-track our initiatives further. engagement in the nation’s transition to
Internet in the country. Local Internet “Capacity building is essential to our IPv6”. The RIPE NCC continues to develop
Registries (LIRs), the RIPE Database and mission, making the training sessions training programmes and other initiatives
the fundamentals of Internet Protocol even more imperative. We are happy with to provide technical expertise related to
version 6 (IPv6) were the three main the results of the programmes and we look the Internet’s infrastructure, and to raise
training courses. During the LIR training forward to holding similar initiatives in the awareness about major challenges in the
on the first day, the attendees learned future for continuous skills enhancement. virtual world such as IPv6 deployment,
about the administrative procedures and We would like to thank the RIPE NCC for security, peering and Internet governance
policies related to managing Internet its commitment, assistance and support.” issues.
number resources and operating an Chafic Chaya, Regional Communications
LIR. The course also included a basic
introduction to the RIPE Database. On the
second day, the purpose and objectives
of the RIPE Database were expounded
where participants were taught about the
functions, scope and importance of the
RIPE Database. They learned how it works
and how to update it. They also took part
in various exercises and demonstrations
that allowed them to practice their newly
learned skills. The last and final day saw
the participants tackling the basics of
IPv6. This training course elaborated on
the imminent IPv4 run-out, the necessity
to switch to IPv6, and how to prepare for
the deployment of IPv6. Oman is the third

Free Tariff for Health and Education e-Portals

The Communications and Information to suspend studies at all educational digital educational contents and tools,
Technology Commission (CITC) directed institutions across the Kingdom as part of the ability to perform homework and
telecommunications companies measures to stem the spread of corona. school tests, as well as providing effective
to calculate free tariff for approved On Sunday, Minister of Education issued channels of communication among
educational and health digital platforms as directives to activate virtual schools and students, school staff and parents. iEN is
part of the measures taken in the backdrop distance education during the suspension a strategic project that provides reliable
of preventing the spread of corona. This period, ensuring that the educational e-educational services to all students,
aimed at facilitating the educational process continues in an effective way with teachers, educational leaders and parents.
process and providing digital alternatives to maintaining the quality. The educational The free data tariff also included the
benefit from health services in accordance platforms, which are listed in the free data Seha App for online medical consultation
with the social responsibility schemes of tariff included the National Education service. This service aims to facilitate the
telecommunications companies, the Saudi Portal and the Unified Education System. use of free medical consulting services via
Press Agency reported. CITC initiative The two platforms contain advanced smart devices, for the cases that may not
follows the Saudi government’s decision digital solutions that provide advanced need to visit the health centers.

70 MARCH 2020