Egypt's telecoms regulator, the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has issued the regulatory framework for providing Internet of Things (IoT) services in the country. IoT is actually deemed one of the most important mainstays of Industry 4.0, operating the major systems as well as digital services of smart cities including smart home, smart metre and smart transportation. In fact, such a step comes in line with Egypt's strategy to foster digital transformation across its different sectors and polarise as well as increase investments in this field. This step aims to support Egypt's future plans to establish further smart cities, NTRA said in a statement. For this, NTRA had studied the optimum international modules and practices with respect to IoT services. In addition, the regulator is arranging meetings and hearing sessions with a number of local as well as global organisations operating in such a field to figure out the best regulatory policies applicable in international markets as well as fitting Egypt's telecom market. Such a framework was actually prepared and approved to act as a regulatory tool facilitating IoT service procedures, NTRA added. Hossam El-Gamal, executive president of NTRA, said the new regulatory framework aims to polarise investments to establish IoT networks and sophisticated app platforms. Hossam El-Gamal, executive president of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) (Photo Credit: NTRA) It also helps with enforcing Egypt's policy of Industry 4.0 and foster digital information through establishing a large number of sophisticated systems, operated via IoT technologies, across the country's different sectors, El-Gamal added. These technologies would also contribute to mechanizing business cycles and providing sophisticated e-services to citizens. He has further pointed out that the regulatory framework to provide IoT services was adopted and approved by NTRA in conjunction with Egypt 2030 Vision, which entails the foundation of a number of cities similar to the New Administrative Capital. Such a framework seeks to allow creating a number of modern smart systems in smart cities and communities. It also helps with the transformation from traditional to modern smart systems to expedite and facilitate the process of e-service provision, the NTRA executive stated IoT is a terminology indicating all equipment interconnected via telecom networks, where data are exchanged to fulfil the requirements and needs of citizens in all life aspects. IoT apps are also diversified according to different aspects of usage including end-user, commercial and industrial, infrastructure besides government activities.
