This Global Trends Flash notes that the Telecommunications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARTP) in Senegal launched in May 2023 work relating to the implementation of national roaming. The objective is to extend the coverage of electronic communications networks, particularly in underserved areas of Senegal. The other purpose is to promote competition between operators, and guarantee mobile service continuity for users, the authority specified. A few other African countries started encouraging national roaming agreements between operators in recent years. National roaming has often been essential to spur competition and increase mobile service availability in remote or scarcely populated areas. It is also in other regions, for example in several countries in Latin America.

From 17 August 2023, digital platforms operating in Thailand as well as offshore digital platforms targeting Thai consumers must notify their activities to the country’s Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA). Large platforms must also comply with a series of transparency and fairness requirements, the new law specifies. According to this Global Trends Flash, the new rules in Thailand present similarities with legislative measures recently introduced in the EU and in other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) decided to allocate the 5,925–6,425 MHz band for Wi-Fi use on a licence-exempt basis, this Global Trends Flash highlights. IMDA also specified technical requirements for the use of the band. Other countries around the world, such as Australia, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, and New Zealand, among others have also decided to allocate the lower 500 MHz of the 6 GHz band, comprising 1,200 MHz in total, for unlicensed Wi-Fi use. IMDA noted stakeholders’ strong support and consensus on the proposed allocation. In particular, additional Wi-Fi spectrum is needed to meet increasing capacity needs. IMDA expects to finish the legislative amendments in 3Q 2023 in order to give effect to the allocation and for Wi-Fi equipment that operate in the 6 GHz band to be registered with IMDA.

The US president included among his revenue proposals for the FY 2024 US federal budget a tax on digital asset mining to defray the costs of negative externalities related to the creation of digital assets. Known as the Digital Asset Mining Energy (DAME) excise tax, if implemented, the levy would amount to 30% of the costs of the electricity used in digital asset mining. This is a Global Trends Flash and it addresses the topic of digital currency mining in different jurisdictions around the world.

The Personal Data Protection Decree (PDPD) will enter into force on 1 July 2023, marking a milestone as the first comprehensive framework governing the protection of personal data in Vietnam. This Global Trends Flash highlights similarities and differences between the new PDPD in Vietnam with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), as well as similar regulation in other ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries.

Moving beyond 5G, several countries around the world are focusing on early visions and research on future 6G technologies and requirements. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the Kingdom of Bahrain hosted the 6G Global Summit, in May 2023. The Kingdom already reached 100% 5G coverage, and TRA highlighted its 6G vision in a mobile sector that is continuously evolving, this Global Trends Flash highlights. The 6G summit was organised by Forum Global and was focused on various topics related to 6G, from cybersecurity challenges to key spectrum bands for the initial 6G rollouts around the world.