Page 88 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

well as in different indoor locations (inside markets, basements of the mobile network operator throughout the country. But now we
different buildings, houses and offices etc.). Scanners are attached will be able to do it within just two months," said Kabir. He said
to each of the four units, enabling them to check the status of the new system will also be able to measure 5G service quality.
network coverage such as mobile network signal strength or Mustafa Jabbar, Telecom Minister, and Md Mohiuddin Ahmed,
weakness at any location. The total cost of the project was 15 lakh Vice Chairman of the BTRC, also spoke.
euro. "Last year it took us 9 months to test the service quality of (November 6, 2022) www.thedailystar.net

Egypt

Held by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Egypt’s market, particularly across the national projects carried out
Egypt (NTRA), and with the participation of 13 African and Arab and the smart ecosystems applied in the state’s developmental
countries, proceedings of the Egyptian African Telecom Regulatory sectors. This also comes in line with NTRA’s role to uphold the
Center’s (EG-ATRC) fourth training session commenced. EG- state’s strategies which aim at reinforcing digital transformation
ATRC is held in line with NTRA’s plan to build African cadres in and disseminating modern technologies across the state’s different
telecommunications as well as exchange expertise, technical sectors, and attracting as well as increasing investments in digital
and commercial practices with African counterparts in telecom services. Participants discussed the market’s recent updates with
authorities. It also comes in line with the Government’s instructions regard to IoT services, at the top of which was the IoT framework
to reinforce relations with African countries. Training topics to be established by NTRA at the beginning of this year. They also gave
embarked upon in EG-ATRC’s fourth session are radio spectrum, their visions and recommendations, and discussed the challenges
type approval and licensing. The session’s agenda also provides hindering IoT services from being used nationwide. Furthermore,
opportunities for seamless communication among African industry-specific suggestions as well as plans to prepare technical
experts to exchange insights and utilize the leading experience IoT cadres were discussed; small and intermediate entrepreneurs
of Egypt in telecom regulation. It’s worth noting that NTRA had were also encouraged to use modern technology with an aim
inaugurated EG-ATRC as the first of its kind in Africa to provide to develop technical solutions in all fields. The Forum’s work
training courses in telecom regulation. It actually paves the road for groups and mechanisms, including two main agendas, were also
telecom experience to be exchanged across the African countries approved. The first agenda handles securing data, establishing
and aims to achieve a unified vision among telecom regulators, regulatory as well as legislative frameworks, creating awareness
and other relevant African entities, through a specialized training and providing a suitable environment to prepare specialized human
program which encompasses many academic and professional cadres. Meanwhile, the second agenda takes on widely using IoT
experts from Egypt and would consequently contribute to building services in public utilities such as, health, education, environment,
a promising digital economy across Africa. Furthermore, EG-ATRC transportation, tourism, energy, industry, agriculture, irrigation
aims to provide training courses for 150 specialized individuals and smart cities sectors. NTRA had previously established the
annually, via specialized training courses designed and taught by IoT regulatory framework to provide IoT services within the Arab
an elite of international experts. Republic of Egypt, being a significant mainstay of Industry 4.0. In
(November 28, 2022) www.tra.gov.eg fact, IoT facilitates operating smart cities’ systems, smart meters
and smart transportation schemes, in addition to providing digital
The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Egypt services across the state’s multi-sectors. It’s worth noting that IoT
(NTRA), in cooperation with the Information Technology Industry encompasses all inter-connected devices via telecom networks
Development Agency (ITIDA), held Egypt’s first forum for Internet to exchange data, in order to meet the citizens’ requirements in
of Things (IOT) services. The Forum was held with 75 participants all life aspects. IoT apps are also diversified in accordance with
taking part as representatives of 36 public, private, and business the nature of each service including, end-user, trade and industrial,
sectors, in addition to leading technology manufacturers as well infrastructural and governmental activities.
as operators. It aims to foster and disseminate IoT services within (November 27, 2022) www.tra.gov.eg

Iran

Iran’s Ministry of ICT says work has begun on deploying fiber access has so far been deployed across Iran and authorities are hoping
networks in ten provincial centers and 55 other cities across the to oversee the rollout of minimum 25Mbps broadband speeds to
country. A report from ISNA says some two million premises are 80% of households and 100% of businesses by 2025.
already passed by fiber-optic infrastructure. 70,000km of fiber (November 29, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

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