Page 123 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

reached 168.97 million by end-August compared to 168.04 million total complaints. Telenor, which has the second largest number
by end-July, which registered an increase of 0.95 million, during of consumers, was third with 1,554 i.e. 19.21 percent complaints
the period under review. Monthly Next Generation Mobile Service were received against it. Ufone had 1,172 complaints against its
(NGMS) penetration increased from 39.25 percent in July to 40.95 various services, which make up 14.49 percent of the total CMO-
percent in August 2020. Jazz's total count for 3G users stood at related complaints. The PTA also received 186 complaints against
10.247 million by end August compared to 10.480 million by end basic telephony, where 176 were addressed during August 2020.
July, registering a decrease of 0.233 million. Jazz 4G user numbers Further 676 complaints were received against the ISPs, where 615
jumped from 19.982 million by end July 2020 to 21.068 million were addressed. (September 23, 2020) brecorder.com
by end August 2020. Zong 3G subscribers decreased from 6.314
million by end-July 2020 to 6.118 million by the end-August, while Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and
the number of 4G users jumped from 18.131 million by end July Telecommunication (MoITT) disclosed on its website that it has
2020 to 18.777 million by end August. The number of 3G users begun preparations for an upcoming auction of additional mobile
of Telenor network decreased from 6.790 million by end-July to broadband spectrum. The brief statement reads: ‘On the direction
6.665 million by end August. The number of 4G users jumped from of Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin
11.583 million by end July 2020 to 12.250 million by end August. Ul Haque, [the MoITT] has started working to release/auction
Ufone 3G users decreased from 5.258 million by end July to 5.148 additional available frequency spectrum for improvement of
million by end August. The number of 4G users of Ufone increased mobile broadband services and network expansion in the country.
from 4.221 million by end July 2020 to 4.534 million by end August. The network expansion will facilitate better digital connectivity,
Teledensity for cellular mobile increased from 79.21 percent by online education, e-commerce etc. Additional spectrum release/
end July to 79.65 by end August. The broadband subscribers auction will help enhancement of 4G services and subscriber base
increased from 83.17 million by end June 2020 to 84.82 million by which is necessary for the successful launch of 5G technology
end July 2020. The PTA received 8,961 complaints from telecom in the country.’ The announcement did not mention specific
consumers against different telecom operators including (cellular frequency bands or other details. TeleGeography notes that
operators, the PTCL, the LDIs, the WLL operators, and the ISPs) as local operators Jazz, Telenor and Zong have all carried out 5G
of August 2020. The PTA said it was able to get 8,807 complaints testing under temporary trial licenses but do not yet possess
resolved i.e. 98 percent. According to the PTA data, Jazz leads commercial 5G concessions. This trio alongside Ufone have all
the chart with 2,949 complaints, and Zong at second position as rolled out extensive 4G LTE network coverage using 1800MHz
the most complained telecom operator with 2,373. Cellular mobile band frequencies and, in Telenor’s case, 850MHz spectrum. 4G
subscribers constitute major part of overall telecom subscriber mobile subscribers overtook the number of 3G users in Pakistan
base, therefore, maximum number of complaints belong to this in the second half of 2019, and the 4G base accounted for 30.6%
segment. Total number of complaints against CMOs by August of the nation’s active mobile SIMs by end-June 2020 (up from
stood at 8,086. In terms of the segregation of complaints on 19.8% a year earlier), compared to 3G’s 17.8% (down from 22.8%),
operator basis, a total of complaints were received against Jazz, according to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database.
which is 36.47 percent of the total CMO-related complaints. Zong (September 8, 2020) commsupdate.com
stood second with 2,373 complaints i.e. 29.34 percent of the

Saudi Arabia

The Communications and Information Technology Commission and contribution to GDP. Dr. Mohammed Al Tamimi, Governor
(CITC) announced a new brand identity as part of its strategy to of CITC, stated, “The digitalization of the world’s economy has
benefit users, service providers and investors in Saudi Arabia’s significantly accelerated in 2020. Our new strategy aims to
ICT and postal sectors. Under this new direction, Telco, IT, and place Saudi Arabia among the world’s best when it comes to
emerging tech will all work together to create the essential digital implementing and regulating new digital technologies across all
ecosystem, which combined with postal services, will deliver an sectors. “We are one of the most tech-savvy and connected nations
attractive communications infrastructure for the Kingdom. Driving in the world and CITC, as the national regulator, must ensure that
innovation in regulation will help position Saudi Arabia as a global the digital infrastructure and regulatory framework reflects this.
leader in the ICT sector. CITC is on track to be classed as a fifth- “Saudi Arabia has already received international recognition for
generation regulator by the International Telecommunication our achievements in the ICT sector and, with this new direction, we
Union (ITU), which defines a harmonized and forward-looking will be able to accomplish even more.” CITC’s new strategy comes
approach to ICT regulatory frameworks. ITU’s fifth generation is directly in line with the Vision 2030 ambitions and the ICT Sector
reserved for the world’s most advanced and high-performing ICT Strategy 2023 set out by the Ministry of Communications and
regulators. Another of the Kingdom’s ambitions is to break into Information Technology (MCIT). Saudi Arabia is a digital nation,
the top 20 countries for the telecommunications and information perfectly positioned to kick-start an exciting era of investment
technology sector by 2030, improving the sector’s performance and innovation across a wide variety of sectors. CITC’s move from

123 SEP-OCT 2020