Page 81 - SAMENA Trends - May 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

corporate call centers to display their true identity and the purpose encourages institutions to create applications and websites that
of calls, aiming to reduce misleading commercial calls. These meet accessibility standards, reducing costs associated with
initiatives are part of Oman’s broader strategy to modernize making modifications later. Targeted at mobile app and website
the telecom regulatory environment while ensuring consumer development teams across both the public and private sectors,
protection and service transparency. (April 25, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com the guide serves as a valuable resource for project managers, user
experience and interface designers, software developers, digital
The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information content writers, accessibility specialists, and quality engineers.
Technology, through the National Programme for Government Additionally, it provides guidance for application owners and
Digital Transformation “Tahawul,” launched the Digital Accessibility stakeholders involved in digital accessibility for people with
Guide. This initiative aims to improve digital inclusion, ensuring disabilities, senior management, and decision-makers. The guide
that all services, including mobile apps and websites, are offers step-by-step instructions on how developers can achieve
accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities and the digital accessibility and how to measure the accessibility levels of
elderly. The guide is designed to assist mobile app and website their applications and websites.
developers in adopting best practices for digital accessibility. It (April 21, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com

Pakistan

A high-level delegation from China Mobile Communications Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), following
Corporation (CMCC), led by Chairman Mr. Yang Jie, visited the intervention from the Special Investment Facilitation Council
Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (SIFC). In a letter addressed to the CCP, PTCL’s legal representative,
(MoITT) in Pakistan, meeting with Federal Minister for IT and Rahat Kausar Hasan, referenced Section 11(11) of the Competition
Telecommunication, Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja. The visit Act 2010 and presented a new settlement offer. The proposal
emphasized the longstanding Pakistan-China relationship and suggests an investment of approximately $1 billion from UAE-
explored opportunities for digital cooperation within the framework based telecom company e&, formerly known as Etisalat, which
of CPEC and Pakistan’s Digital Vision. The CMCC delegation holds a majority stake in PTCL. Sources indicate that the CCP
included senior officials from China Mobile HQ, while the Ministry has requested a timeline and specific details on the investment
of IT was represented by Secretary IT, Additional Secretary IT, areas to be made. Under Section 11(11) of the Competition Act,
Chairman PTA, and other senior officials. During the meeting, if the Commission determines that a proposed merger will not
discussions focused on several key collaboration areas, including substantially reduce competition, it cannot block the transaction.
support for AI-enabled, energy-efficient data centers, advancing The law also allows the Commission to approve the merger with
5G development, and establishing Pak-China connectivity under conditions or enforceable agreements. PTCL’s merger application
the CPEC framework to improve regional connectivity. Additionally, had been delayed for almost a year due to the company’s failure to
both sides explored potential content hosting partnerships provide the necessary documents in response to multiple queries.
with Chinese digital platforms and advancements in Artificial Additionally, there is an unresolved issue regarding an outstanding
Intelligence education, supporting Pakistan’s ambition to achieve payment of Rs 800 million. A settlement of $640 million had been
100 Mbps internet speeds, expand fixed broadband access to reached between the previous government and PTCL management,
10 million households, and raise smartphone penetration to but the payment remains pending. Following the intervention
over 85%. Federal Minister Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja praised of SIFC, PTCL proposed a fresh investment of $1 billion. The
CMCC’s ongoing investment in Pakistan’s digital landscape and company had approached the council for assistance in resolving
highlighted the Prime Minister’s vision for a digitally inclusive and the matter. Upon completion of the merger, Ufone Pakistan, which
empowered Pakistan. She stressed that partnerships like this are will acquire Telenor, is expected to have over 75 million mobile
vital for enhancing the IT and telecom sectors, expanding access, subscribers, positioning it as the second-largest telecom company
and fostering innovation. in Pakistan. This merger is anticipated to enhance competition in
(April 29, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com the mobile phone services market, leading to improved services
for consumers. Meanwhile, the government is actively working on
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) is moving initiatives related to the mobile phone services sector.
towards approving the merger of Telenor Pakistan Limited with (April 10, 2025) www.meatechwatch.com

81 MAY 2025