Page 139 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

regular reporting, service activation controls, and transparency cooperation in related fields. CITRA stated in a press release that
in commission structures. Authorized distributors must comply the meeting addressed issues related to digital transformation and
with strict operational standards including prohibitions on ways to strengthen the partnership between the State of Kuwait
subcontracting, employee identification, cybersecurity measures, and the member states of the organization, within the framework
and surveillance at points of sale. General provisions stipulate of supporting regional and international cooperation in the field
shared accountability for regulatory compliance, mandatory of the digital economy. The statement added that the meeting
integration with CITRA’s monitoring systems, and Authority included discussions about Kuwait's upcoming presidency of the
oversight over contractual changes. CITRA positions itself as the organization's council in 2025, and coordination efforts to provide
sole authority approving service allocations and regulating pricing, technical and technological support to relevant entities to ensure
underscoring its commitment to fostering fair competition and an a successful term and continued collaboration. It was noted that
investor-friendly telecom environment. The consultation period Kuwait, one of the founding members of the Digital Cooperation
allows industry and public input before finalizing the regulation, Organization and represented by the Communications and
marking a significant step in modernizing Kuwait’s telecom Information Technology Regulatory Authority, will chair the next
distribution framework. (June 11, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com General Assembly meeting at the beginning of 2026. In February,
Kuwait assumed the presidency of the fifth session of the
The Acting Chairman of the Communications and Information DCO General Assembly for the year 2025, taking over from the
Technology Regulatory Authority, Sheikh Athbi Jaber Al-Sabah, met Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which chaired the fourth session
with the Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization in 2024.
(DCO), Deemah Al Yahya, to discuss ways to enhance joint (May 12, 2025) www. citra.gov.kw

Morocco

Following a public tender launched by the National Transition and Administrative Reform, highlighted the critical
Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT), Morocco’s three importance of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into national
leading telecom operators—Maroc Telecom (Itissalat Al-Maghrib), strategies to safeguard sovereignty during the opening of Morocco’s
Orange (Médi Telecom), and Wana Corporate (INWI)—have first National AI Conference. She emphasized that AI is no longer
been granted 5G licenses, the agency announced. The decision a distant future concept but a present reality already reshaping
received final approval from Morocco’s Head of Government, vital sectors. Seghrouchni explained that AI is transforming
Aziz Akhannouch, after a thorough review by the ANRT Board of social protection, education, health, finance, and urban planning—
Directors and evaluation of operator applications. Each operator challenging traditional principles of equity, efficiency, reliability,
committed to accelerating 5G rollout nationwide through and sovereignty. She urged that AI be recognized not merely as a
significant investments, network expansion, and improved service technical tool but as a core institutional responsibility requiring a
quality, with total projected investment and operational costs fundamental rethink of public sector operations and the rebuilding
expected to reach nearly MAD 80 billion by 2035. In the evaluation, of trust between citizens and the state. Addressing the rapid
both Maroc Telecom and Wana Corporate scored 87 points, while evolution of AI, the minister stressed a dual responsibility: avoiding
Médi Telecom scored 85. Maroc Telecom will pay MAD 900 million outdated administrative models while maintaining agility to realign
(including tax) for 120 MHz of spectrum, whereas Médi Telecom national strategies such as the Digital Morocco 2030 plan toward
and Wana Corporate will each pay MAD 600 million for 70 MHz. The full AI integration. She also highlighted AI’s paradoxical nature,
operators pledged to cover 45% of Morocco’s population with 5G with the power either to reinforce inequalities or to promote social
services by 2026 and 85% by 2030, coinciding with Morocco’s co- justice and equitable access to opportunities and resources.
hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain. Drawing on Morocco’s strategic position within Africa, Seghrouchni
The six World Cup host cities are targeted for full 5G coverage. 5G framed AI as both a global technological race and a matter of
technology offers download speeds up to 100 times faster than symbolic and material sovereignty, where global power balances
4G and latency as low as 1 millisecond. Morocco currently boasts are being redefined. She concluded by calling for a sovereign,
one of Africa’s highest internet penetration rates at 90.7%. nation-level approach to AI governance driven by a genuine will for
(July 29, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com reform and courageous leadership, enabling artificial intelligence
to serve as a true catalyst for Morocco’s sustainable development.
Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Deputy Minister in charge of Digital (July 3, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com

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