Page 68 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Egypt

Egypt has been awarded the title of the fastest fixed internet in speed internet access to approximately 60 million people across
Africa for 2024 by Ookla, a global leader in internet speed testing. around 4,500 villages. Talaat shared that Egypt’s investments of
The award was presented to Amr Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of $3.5 billion in digital infrastructure have resulted in a remarkable
Communications and Information Technology, at the Mobile World improvement in average fixed internet speeds, rising from 5.4
Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. In his address, Talaat Mbps in December 2017 to 80.3 Mbps in January 2025. These
highlighted the importance of reliable telecommunications and advancements have secured Egypt’s position as a leader in
internet services as integral components of Egypt’s digital strategy fixed internet speed in Africa for over three consecutive years.
and economic growth. He emphasized the country’s ongoing The award ceremony also saw the participation of Stephen Bye,
efforts to enhance digital infrastructure, aiming to improve internet President and CEO of Ookla, and other company executives, along
service quality for citizens. Talaat also announced the rollout of a with Mohamed Nasr, Managing Director and CEO of Telecom
project to replace copper cables with fiber optic networks in rural Egypt. (March 10, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com
Egypt’s “Haya Karima” villages. This initiative will provide high-

Iraq

Iraq's Council of Ministers has approved the establishment of the • National Board of Pension / State Pension Fund
National Mobile Telecommunications Company (NMTC), which • Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI)
will operate Iraq's 5G national license in cooperation with UK's Each entity will contribute one-third of the capital as a long-term
Vodafone Group. investment. The Council of Ministers will oversee key corporate
The initiative aims to develop the telecommunications sector, decisions, including shareholding amendments, public offerings,
maximize revenues, and implement the government program. The and strategic planning. The Minister of Communications has
new company will be a private limited entity under the Companies been assigned to supervise implementation and provide regular
Law No. 21 of 1997 (as amended), with equal ownership by: progress reports. (March 11, 2025) www.iraq-businessnews.com
• Al-Salam General Company (Ministry of Communications)

Kuwait

Kuwait's Communication and Information Technology Regulatory a big stride in Kuwait's drive to become a regional hub for digital
Authority (CITRA) inked a contract awarding Ooredoo group license transformation, business and technology. He added that CITRA's
to put in place the submarine cable Fibre in Gulf (FIG). The gigantic commitment to promoting the national infrastructure, supporting
project connects seven Arabian Gulf countries - Bahrain, Iraq, economic growth and sustainable development, and leading digital
Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, economy initiatives. On his part, regional CEO of Ooredoo for the
provides secure route to a new corridor to Europe. With a capacity Middle East Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Thani said the project
of 720 terabyte per second and 24 pairs of optical fibers, the FIG is represents a big stride in the Group's strategy for promoting the
one of the most advanced cables in the world and gives a quantum digital infrastructure and linking the national networks of the Gulf
leap to the digital infrastructure in the Gulf region, according to region to the outside world. "The FIG has to do with not only the
a statement from CITRA. "The project, which is expected to go speed of the internet but the long-term investment and the future
operational by Q4-2027, will boost the resilience and credibility of of telecommunications in the region as well," he pointed out. The
the communication networks in the region and expand the scope project opens new horizons for innovation and more investment
of connectivity with the world in the long run," the statement quoted in hi-tech, and enables the businesses and internet providers to
CITRA Acting Chairman Abdullah Al-Ajmi as saying. "It will enhance share data in a fast, secure and effective way, thus improving the
the competitive edge of the networks amid growing demand for performance of the various economic sectors, Sheikh Nasser Al
high speed internet, cloud computing and artificial intelligence Thani added. (March 11, 2025) www.citra.gov.kw
(AI) services," he noted. Al-Ajmi affirmed that the project will be

68 MARCH-APRIL 2025