Page 115 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

way to users. They are distributed as per strategic plans adopted also played a role in the success of the applications, which allow
by the government which serve Information and Communication transactions to be completed easily and conveniently, without the
Technology (ICT) sector requirements. Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, need to visit service centers. A host of new services were recently
the iGA CEO chaired the third Spectrum Strategy and Coordination added, contributing to the increased usage,” Dr. Al Khajah said.
Committee meeting, which was held remotely and attended The report revealed that services offered through mobile apps
by representatives of nine government organizations. Al Qaed were used nearly 60 million times, including more than 134,000
emphasized that the committee is working to provide for the financial transactions valued at more than BD6m. The app which
spectrum requirements of various sectors in support of the saw the highest usage ‘Islamiyat’, which witnessed a 257 per cent
Government Action Plan. The updated National Frequency Plan, spike due to the Zakat Service and the addition of ‘Fa’el Khair’
which is to be issued as a digital booklet, will allow for more charity service. The ‘Wejhaty’ app, which provides Foreign Affairs
effective use of the spectrum and resources. This, in turn, will Ministry notifications to Bahrainis abroad, recorded a 227pc
help improve the quality of mobile and satellite communications growth over the pandemic period. Meanwhile, the ‘Sehati’ app
and other radio services. He said the plan served as a technical recorded a 179pc jump in usage due to the addition of a medicine
guide for radiocommunications users in Bahrain, including delivery service by Salmaniya Medical Complex. A total of 31
global manufacturers and developers of communications eServices were developed and launched from February. Statistics
systems noting that since its plan announcement in July. The extracted from the National Portal, bahrain.bh showed strong
digital booklet plan being issued by the kingdom will serve as a demand for the ‘Corona Affected Registration service’ launched
reference for other countries, providing important information last May in co-operation with the Royal Humanitarian Foundation
in a convenient and transparent manner. This may help (RHF) which received 37,000 visits in just three months. The
attract investment by showcasing Bahrain's clear and flexible ‘VAT Bill Payment service’, launched in co-operation with the
radiocommunications plans and regulations, said Al Qaed. An National Bureau for Revenue last June, processed more than
outline for the national dissemination of frequencies has been 1,400 financial transactions. Demand also increased for services
adopted and will be provided via the iGA corporate website and offered by the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry
the National Portal, bahrain.bh. The plan will serve a range of and the Education Ministry. Lease Contract services recorded
sectors in Bahrain, enabling them to access information quickly a 666pc surge in payments and a 330pc jump in Payment of
and easily, he stated. The committee discussed a number of other Court Execution Ruling during the same period. Dr. Al Khajah
items, including a report by the Chairman of the Subcommittee also announced that a suite of new eServices for ministerial
for International Planning and the results of an Internet of Things departments were on the way. (September 15, 2020) zawya.com/mena/en
(IoT) study conducted by the Telecommunications Regulatory
Authority (TRA), he added. According to him, the National The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Bahrain
Frequency Plan’s objectives include the introduction of more announced that it had received the European Foundation for
efficient technologies for users of the radio spectrum, meeting the Quality Management (EFQM) Award “Recognized for Excellence
requirements of the implemented national communications plan, 4 star level”, The first organization to receive the award in the
and supporting the latest mobile and private communications Kingdom of Bahrain. The TRA began the work towards meeting
technology advancements. This will help attract investment to the the EFQM’s requirements in 2013 where an assessment team
ICT sector, supporting economic growth. The plan also takes into from their headquarters in Belgium set forth recommendations
account unified frequencies allocated regionally and globally for that would help the TRA qualify for recognition which lead to
Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR), which help local and the first milestone, receiving the certificate for “commitment to
international rescue and emergency teams communicate with excellence”, and becoming members of EFQM. TRA set a work
each other, he added. (October 4, 2020) tradearabia.com plan based on EFQM’s recommendations that target areas of
focus such as leadership, strategy, people, and stakeholders.
More than 800,000 government transactions were processed Between 2013 and 2017, TRA began a number of strategic
between April and August this year, with online payments exceeding projects that would bridge the gap towards excellence including
BD57 million. Digital transformation efforts are proceeding the development of a strategy system, leadership program,
at breakneck speed, as reflected by the quarterly eServices career development program, succession planning, performance
statistics report, which recorded a 20-fold surge in government management system, reward system, and a number of other
mobile application usage available in the eGovernment App, major projects that impacted their results to a point where the
compared with the same five-month period last year. Information TRA was ready to submit its outcomes to the EFQM. “This
& eGovernment Authority (iGA) Deputy Chief Executive of prestigious award is a testament to the vision of our Kingdom’s
Electronic Transformation Dr. Zakareya Ahmed Al Khajah said wise leadership and their continuous support towards the pursuit
digital transformation projects across government entities were of excellence.” Says Acting General Director of TRA, Shaikh Nasser
among the iGA’s highest priorities.” The iGA deploys all available Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa. “It’s an honor for the TRA to be the first
resources towards achieving digital transformation goals and organization to receive this award for all its directorates in Bahrain,
equipping government organizations with technologies that help and we welcome the opportunity to share our experience with any
better serve the public,” he said. The BeAware Bahrain app has organization seeking to achieve the same.” He continued. Also
been a huge hit with one million downloads recorded since its commenting in the ceremony, EFQM CEO, Russel Longmuir stated
launch in March. “The public’s general experience with technology that “Normally it would take an organization 3 years to increase

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