Page 70 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

WHOLESALE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Deutsche Telekom Pushes IoT

Roaming in Europe

Deutsche Telekom struck NB-IoT roaming agreements with
European operator partners Swisscom, Telia and Vodafone
Group, in a move to expand availability to 18 countries in total.
In a statement, Deutsche Telekom said the partnerships address
customer demand for international coverage and service, as the
number of IoT devices on the market increase. It expects to strike
additional NB-IoT roaming agreements with further operator
partners in the coming months. Deutsche Telekom will offer mobile
IoT roaming in nine of its markets (Germany, the Netherlands,
Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Greece, Poland and
Croatia), in addition to Swisscom’s networks in Switzerland and
Lichtenstein; Telia’s Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish
operations; and Vodafone networks in Spain, Italy, Germany, across multiple markets. The market received a further boost
the Netherlands and UK. “Our customers need a sustainable in June 2019, as major operators AT&T, Orange, Swisscom
roaming environment for their mobile IoT deployments to and KPN activated roaming on LTE-M, the other standardized
deliver a consistent service across international borders,” said LPWA IoT technology, on their respective networks, in a move
Rami Avidan, SVP IoT at Deutsche Telekom. “This allows them to ensure better connectivity across Europe and North America.
to benefit from economies of scale as they continue to expand Deutsche Telekom added roaming will be very important for many
their business.” Roaming across standardized LPWA networks industries, such as industrial asset tracking, smart metering or
is considered essential to drive the market, as manufacturers waste management industries, where solutions will need to work
target seamless coverage when deploying mobile IoT devices across many markets.

Free Mobile Seeks Extension to Orange Roaming Access

French regulator Arcep revealed it is mulling a request to extend new obligations under its New Deal. The operator requested an
a roaming deal between Free Mobile and Orange by two years, extension from 31 December 2020 to the same date in 2022. If
after the former expressed difficulty in meeting the coverage of approved, Free Mobile customers would have roaming download
its more well-established rivals. In a statement, Arcep said Free speeds capped at 384kp/s, and there would be no change to the
Mobile cited a changing competitive environment for the need to interconnection capacity available between “core networks for the
extend the agreement for 2G and 3G network access. The operator flow of total roaming traffic”. Iliad-owned Free Mobile entered the
noted the market’s standard for network coverage had “increased French market in 2011, signing the roaming deal with Orange to
substantially” after rivals SFR and Bouygues Telecom struck enable it to launch commercial services in 2012 while constructing
their own network sharing deal, and the regulator introduced its own network.

Nkom Orders Telenor Norge to Introduce New Wholesale Fiber Product

Norway’s National Communications fixed location). Under that ruling the telco March 2020. As per this regulatory ruling,
Authority (Nasjonal kommunikasj- is required to offer virtual access to its the Nkom has said that Telenor Norge
onsmyndighet, Nkom) has directed fixed fiber infrastructure, and following the must be ready to actually deliver the new
line incumbent Telenor Norge to offer decision the Nkom began discussions VULA fiber service within six months of
alterative telecoms providers a new with local industry players regarding the decision (i.e. by end-September 2020),
fiber-based wholesale service within what requirements should apply to such while within three months (30 June 2020)
six months. In a press release regarding a product. Now, having received feedback it must have published standard offers
the matter, the Nkom noted that Telenor from interested parties, and following talks for the service on its wholesale website.
Norge had previously been designated with Telenor regarding technical matters Telenor can, however, appeal the decision,
as a provider with significant market related to the Virtual Unbundled Local and it has four weeks from the date of its
power (SMP) as per a December 2018 Access (VULA) fiber service, the Nkom has publication to do so.
regulatory decision covering market 3a now finalized the technical specifications
(wholesale local access provided at a for the new offering, in a decision dated 31

70 APRIL 2020