Page 77 - SAMENA Trends - May 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATESATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS
REGUL

A SNAPSHOT OF REGULATORY ACTIVITIES

IN THE SA-ME-NA REGION

Afghanistan

Service provider MTN has officially concluded its operations in on African markets. MTN first announced plans to exit the Middle
Afghanistan, transferring its stake to the Beirut-based M1 Group. East in August 2020. Indeed this exit follows announcements of
The company will now operate under the brand name ATOMA. At planned withdrawals by MTN from Syria in August 2021 and Yemen
a formal handover ceremony, Najibullah Haqqani, the Taliban’s soon after. MTN’s only remaining presence in the region is a 49%
Minister of Telecommunications and Technology, announced that stake in Irancell, its joint venture in Iran. At the ceremony Haqqani
MTN’s shares had been acquired by M1 Group for an undisclosed called on ATOMA to deliver high-quality services, honor its license
multi-million-dollar sum. In November 2022 it was reported that obligations, and priorities consumer rights. Hashim Ramazan,
MTN Group had named Lebanon’s M1 New Ventures as the buyer the newly appointed CEO of ATOMA, pledged to modernize the
of its Afghan unit. At the time news outlets suggested that M1 was company’s network infrastructure, improve 4G services, and
set to acquire MTN Afghanistan for US$35 million. MTN, which provide reliable, high-quality voice and internet connectivity across
began operations in Afghanistan in 2007, held a 40% share of the country.
the market and was the country’s largest mobile operator. MTN’s (April 22, 2025) www.developingtelecoms.com
strategic decision aligns with its long-term goal to concentrate

Bahrain

Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Chief Executive of Bahrain’s Information population and household statistics. Al Qaed outlined the launch of
& eGovernment Authority (iGA), highlighted key achievements several surveys, including the Household Income and Expenditure
in 2024, emphasizing the progress made in enhancing data Survey and the National Health Survey, to provide accurate
transparency and quality. He noted that over 900,000 transactions insights into Bahrain’s socio-economic landscape. Furthermore,
were completed related to ID, population, civil records, and address the Bahrain Open Data Portal saw major enhancements in 2024,
services, with 95% of these conducted via digital channels. This adding over 435 datasets and logging more than 9 million visits,
effort contributes significantly to Bahrain’s digital transformation, reflecting significant public and international interest. The iGA’s
supporting both the country’s Economic Vision 2030 and the UN ongoing collaboration with local and international entities ensures
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Al Qaed also mentioned reliable data management, underscoring Bahrain’s commitment
the launch of several eServices via Bahrain’s National Portal, to data transparency and sustainable development. Al Qaed also
including updates to household status, ID card verification, and highlighted upcoming projects, including the Tourism Survey,
GCC ID card activation, incorporating biometric data. The iGA also Labour Force Survey, and the rollout of the enhanced ID card in
unveiled its Virtual Customer Service Centre, expanding service Q1 2025. The year 2024 reflects iGA’s dedication to advancing
delivery channels. Bahrain’s national datasets have been enhanced Bahrain’s digital transformation and supporting effective policy-
to improve the accuracy of economic data, notably increasing GDP making through trusted, high-quality data.
estimates by 5-6%. Additionally, the iGA improved the GCC Common (April 29, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com
Market statistical database and continued refining the country’s

77 MAY 2025