Page 77 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

enable the deployment of wireless sensors for soil and West Midlands Combined Authority for Industry 4.0
methane monitoring, helping to boost automation and technology amongst others. “By 2035 we could see
improve sustainability. The projects aim to establish a whole new Britain emerge, harnessing the power of
the Northeast as a national hub for 5G innovation and technological development, from engineering biology to
deployment across multiple sectors. Other funding AI, semiconductors and cyber security, or quantum and
injections include £1.3 million to Belfast City Council future telecoms for a stronger economy and better lives
to boost the adoption and commercialisation of for all in the UK,” said Peter Kyle in the announcement’s
advanced wireless technologies and £1 million to the press release. (March 11, 2025) www.totaltele.com

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that he had of Inquiry and at least one subpoena to the entities
established a new Council on National Security within named on the Covered List. The FCC is now gathering
the FCC. Chairman Carr is disclosing the first major responsive information and will determine any actions
initiative that this Council has been leading. Specifically, that may be necessary to further safeguard America’s
United the FCC has launched a sweeping investigation into the networks and promote our national security. “The FCC
has taken concrete actions to address the threats
ongoing U.S. operations of CCP-aligned businesses
States whose equipment or services the FCC previously placed posed by Huawei, ZTE, China Telecom, and many other
on its Covered List based on determinations that those entities that pose an unacceptable risk to America’s
equipment or services pose unacceptable risks to national security, including by doing Communist
America’s national security. Despite being placed on China’s bidding,” Chairman Carr stated. “To safeguard
the FCC’s Covered List, some or all of those entities our networks, the FCC has placed those CCP-aligned
may still be operating in the U.S.—either because entities on our Covered List, and we have revoked many
they do not believe the FCC’s Covered List prohibits of the FCC authorizations that they had been operating
particular types of operations or otherwise. To assess under. (March 21, 2025) www.fcc.gov
their current levels of operation, the FCC sent Letters

Vietnam’s Internet infrastructure is showing significant modern, secure, and efficient digital infrastructure as a
improvement, with the country climbing 15 places in national priority. In Decree No. 57, issued at the end of
global mobile Internet speed rankings, according to the 2024, the Politburo outlined directives for strengthening
Speedtest Global Index released by Ookla in January digital and technological infrastructure while ensuring
Vietnam 2025. According to Ookla's data, Vietnam now ranks security and cost-effectiveness. This policy direction
has been translated into concrete action. The National
34th in the world for fixed broadband speed, moving up
one position compared to 2024. The country's average Assembly recently approved a resolution introducing
fixed broadband download speed is 163.41 Mbps, well special policies and mechanisms to accelerate
above the global average of 97.61 Mbps. For mobile innovation, technological development, and digital
Internet, Vietnam has made even greater strides, transformation, including state-funded support for
ranking 22nd globally, with an average mobile download nationwide 5G deployment. Additionally, under Directive
speed of 134.19 Mbps, exceeding the global average of No. 05/CT-TTg, the Prime Minister has tasked the
91.24 Mbps. This marks a 15-rank jump compared to Ministry of Science and Technology with accelerating
January 2024, reflecting major improvements in the the commercialization of 5G, conducting 6G research,
country’s mobile network performance. Ookla is a expanding telecommunications satellite development,
global leader in measuring, analyzing, and evaluating and upgrading Vietnam’s national broadband backbone
Internet connectivity, widely recognized for its Speedtest infrastructure. Expanding high-speed fixed broadband
platform. The company plays a crucial role in promoting infrastructure is a key strategic goal, viewed as a critical
transparency and improving telecommunications driver of economic growth. Strengthening Vietnam’s
infrastructure worldwide. Vietnam’s higher ranking on digital infrastructure is expected to play a vital role in
Ookla’s index highlights the significant advancements helping the country achieve its 2025 economic growth
in the country’s digital infrastructure. The Vietnamese target of 8% or higher. (March 5, 2025) www.english.mic.gov.vn
government has emphasized the development of

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