Page 117 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

will be collected before it goes into commercial operation,” he and is approved, we can procure additional equipment for the 5G
added. According to Nepal, 5G will be tested using different bands network. They will be installed on the existing telecom towers,” he
and suitable ones will be selected. “The 5G trials may take two- said. When asked if the 5G network would be expensive, Adhikari
three months or even a year.” Once the frequency for 5G operation said they had not calculated the cost yet. “Once the piloting is
is separated, state-owned telecom giant Nepal Telecom will start successful, we will issue a global tender to buy the equipment. A
trial operation. For commercial operation, the telecom regulator cost analysis will also be made at that time,” he said. According
has started doing homework to fix the frequency band, spectrum, to the latest management and information report of the authority,
distribution process, pricing and other possibilities, Aryal said. internet access has reached 82.79 percent of total population
The frequency band needs to be separated for trial operation and with 60.34 percent mobile broadband users. The number of 4G
commercial use, he added. Addressing the 23rd anniversary of users had reached 6.68 million as of mid-January, including 2.38
the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, Information Minister million 4G subscribers of Nepal Telecom, 4.08 million subscribers
Parbat Gurung said that they had started preparations to roll of Ncell and 219,708 subscribers of Smart Telecom. According
out 5G network by piloting it in four major cities in the country. to reports, Hong Kong, Seoul, Sydney, Taipei, Manila, Tokyo and
Nepal currently has 4G networks that were established in January Shenzhen have already introduced 5G networks. In May 2020,
2017. According to Nepal Telecom, 4G service has reached all 77 Bangkok became the first city in Southeast Asia to roll out a 5G
districts in the country, covering 654 local units, or 85 percent of network, while Singapore in August started a six-month trial.
the population. The authority said that 75 percent of the population (March 6, 2021) kathmandupost.com
used devices that are 4G supportive. The fifth generation 5G
technology standard for cellular broadband networks offers Nepal’s National Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has
faster connections, higher throughput and more capacity than 4G, determined the spectrum bands that will be used for 5G. NTA
and will benefit areas of high traffic such as public places. The spokesperson Meen Prasad Aryal confirmed that the regulator
government will work to expand the 5G network under the Digital has adopted the bands identified by the National Frequency
Nepal Framework 2018. Nepal Telecom has conducted tests for Management Forum – a body formed by the regulator, the
interference that can happen in a 5G network, and encountered Ministry of Communications & Information Technology (MoCIT)
interference while using a band proposed by the authority in a and telecom operators – and has submitted the plans to the
preliminary study. A meeting is expected to be held between the National Radio Frequency Policy Determination Committee
Ministry and the Authority to resolve this matter. Dilli Ram Adhikari, for approval. The forum has recommended using the 700MHz,
Managing Director of Nepal Telecom, said they had asked their 900MHz, 2300MHz and 2600MHz spectrum bands in the lower
4G equipment and service supplier to provide 5G equipment to range, 3300MHz, 3400MHz, 3600MHz and 4100MHz in the mid-
conduct a trial. “As soon as they submit a report and recommend range and 26GHz in the high range. Service providers will only be
an appropriate modality for the trial phase, we will start piloting allocated frequencies once the Committee, chaired by the MoCIT,
in the selected cities,” he said. “If things go as planned, we may has agreed the plans. In the meantime, the NTA has been tasked
begin the 5G trial by the end of this fiscal year.” Nepal Telecom with conducting a study into the deployment of 5G services.
currently has basic infrastructure for a 5G network which needs (February 16, 2021) The Himalayan Times
to be upgraded, Adhikari said. “After the spectrum is identified

Oman

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has providers and researchers can pilot or test their innovations or
established the annual royalty rate that telecoms licensees are ideas. Announcing the launch of the public consultation, the
obligated to pay to the government of Oman. ‘Ministerial Decision Authority said: “The TRA intends to allow telecommunications
No. 19/2021 Determining the Percentages of the Annual Royalty technology, applications or services to be tested in a coordinated,
Prescribed on the Licensee to Provide Telecommunications coherent, secure and safe manner.” The framework, it stated,
Services’ states that Class I licensees (including mobile will be applicable to all entities or individuals (seeking) to test
operators) will be required to pay 12% of their total annual services related to telecommunications technology, applications
revenues, while other fixed line operators must pay 7% in 2021 or services directly. It defined the sandbox as a ‘safe house’ where
and 10% of their total annual revenue from 2022. For providers of pilots of specified types of innovative products and services
‘other telecommunications services’, the rate has been set at 7% can take place. “Sandboxes allow businesses to test innovative
of their total annual revenues. (March 8, 2021) commsupdate.com products, services, business models and delivery mechanisms in
a live environment, without having to immediately comply with
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the all regulatory requirements,” the Authority explained. According
Sultanate has announced the launch of a public consultation on to the regulator, the regulatory sandbox will be open to any
its regulatory sandbox – a framework in which telecom service company, technology firm or individual who aspires to “introduce

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