Page 99 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Hungarian Government Informatics Development program, while by end-2022 the proportion of Hungarian
Agency (KIFU) held a presentation marking the households capable of 1Gbps access exceeded a two-
completion of national broadband development thirds threshold. 3,800 public institutions, schools
projects under the EU-assisted Superfast Internet and municipalities received modern optical network
Hungary Program (SZIP) which began in 2016 and received more connections within the framework of the program.
than HUF3 billion (USD8.7 million) in EU grants under Under the SZIP initiatives, a national electronic
KIFU’s management. KIFU noted that today nearly 97% communications database was created for handling
of households in Hungary are covered by high speed tenders for network development and for supervisory
fixed internet networks. The Digital Agenda of the engineering support for the implementation of grant-
EU set the goal that by 2020 every household should winning projects, and in the framework of the state-
have access to internet access at a speed of at least subsidized tenders nearly 350,000 ‘places of need’ were
30Mbps, with at least half of households to be covered covered in 196 district tenders, while about 300,000
by services capable of 100Mbps-plus speeds. Hungary’s places of need were covered under independent
30Mbps fixed network coverage exceeded 95% by 2020, commitments of Hungarian telecoms service providers.
with the remainder of homes offered special mobile (December 1, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
internet tariffs made available under the government

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has framework is lengthy and time consuming, requiring
issued a decision to scrap paper-based customer sellers to fill in a Customer Acquisition Form and
registration and verification process with effect from attach a photograph plus documents providing proofs
1 January 2024. The switch to a digital Know Your of identity and address. The government tightened
India Customer (KYC) system for mobile customer enrolment restrictions on SIM sales earlier this year in a bid to
is expected to help lower customer acquisition costs
reduce fraud and cybercrime.
for operators and reduce SIM fraud. The paper-based (December 6, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

A call for information has been published by the it is seeking views on these main themes, as well as
Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA) as responses to questions posed in its call for information
it commences a review of the Bailiwick’s telecoms document. Submissions have been requested by
market. According to the local regulator the review a deadline of 2 February 2024. Commenting, Peter
Jersey is expected to conclude in early 2025 with the aim of Hetherington, Chief Economist at the JCRA, said:
‘The Authority’s aim is to maintain well-functioning
‘further develop[ing] a robust and enduring regulatory
framework, enabling the Authority to continue to deliver markets, supporting both competition and investment
effective regulation of telecoms services. According to in connectivity … The review will be overarching, to test
the JCRA, its review will be framed by three main themes, the current operating and regulatory environment and
those being: government telecoms policy framework ensure both are fit for purpose for the future benefit
and action plan; regulatory and economic policy; and of both the telecoms companies and their customers.’
consumer policy. At this stage, the watchdog said (December 1, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

As part of efforts to promote competition and operators, encourage investment to expand access
increase service availability, Madagascar’s telecom to services, and ultimately lower prices for end-users.
watchdog the Agency for Regulation of Technology The measures also introduced two additional licenses,
and Communication (ARTEC) has launched a call for namely: a satellite license authorizing the deployment
Madagascar applications from candidates seeking a license to of public GMPCS, broadband satellite or VSAT networks;
operate satellite-based broadband services. Interested
and a unified license permitting the operator to offer
parties will have until 28 March 2024 to make their the full range of fixed, mobile and data services via all
submissions. In April 2023 the government announced authorized networks, as well as to lease infrastructure
major policy changes designed to fully liberalize and provide wholesale capacity.’
the telecoms sector, including specific measures to (December 6, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
remove barriers to entry, create a level playing field for

99 DECEMBER 2023