Page 144 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

suppliers have time to update devices. Separately, the camcorder and video player. Telecoms providers BT
meanwhile, Ofcom has also launched a consultation on and KCOM will no longer have to provide fax services
a pricing offer for full fiber broadband that BT Group’s on their networks. Ofcom has changed the obligations
network arm Openreach intends to introduce from 1 requiring the telcos to provide fax services because
April 2023. Under UK regulation, Openreach is required the fax machine “has been overtaken by email and
to notify Ofcom of certain offers 90 days before they document sharing software that offers the same or
come into effect, so that the watchdog can consider better functionality”. There are two designated telecom
whether they might be anticompetitive. With Openreach providers responsible for universal service in the UK
having notified Ofcom of its new wholesale pricing – BT and KCOM (in the Hull area only). This change
plans, known as the ‘Equinox 2’ offer, Ofcom has said does not mean that fax services will stop working
that its provisional view is that there is no need for it immediately, but there will no longer be an obligation
to intervene to prevent the network operator from on BT and KCOM to provide fax support. “The current
introducing the revised pricing arrangements. According USO (Universal Service Obligation) was set out in
to Ofcom: ‘In our provisional view, the proposed offer is 2003 when fax machines were more prevalent and
consistent with our primary strategic goal of promoting email and instant messaging were less ubiquitous.
investment in high-speed networks to deliver fast, “So, at that time it was important the USO required BT
affordable broadband to people and business across and KCOM to provide fax services. Alternatives to fax
the UK.’ It has, however invited comments on the matter machines are now more widely available and migration
by a deadline of 4 March 2023 before deciding how to of networks to IP technology means fax services can
proceed, while it says it expects to issue a final decision no longer be guaranteed to work in the same way. This
before the end of March. (February 3, 2023) www.commsupdate.com change doesn’t mean fax services will stop working
immediately, but current fax users should look for
Telcos are no longer required to provide fax support alternatives”. (January 15, 2023) www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk
to customer lines The fax machine is going the way of

The Wireline Competition Bureau of the Federal while the other 15% have not yet begun the work. The
Communications Commission (FCC) has updated regulator highlights the four main challenges as follows:
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and lack of funding; supply chain delays; labor shortages;
Transportation and the House of Representatives and weather-related challenges. The next update is due
United Committee on Energy and Commerce regarding the to be submitted on 10 July 2023. The FCC faces a USD3
progress of the ‘Secure and Trusted Communications
billion shortfall as it seeks to reimburse small-scale US
States Networks Reimbursement Program’. The scheme – operators who need to remove Huawei/ZTE equipment
which is better known as the ‘rip-and-replace’ program – from their networks on national security grounds. The
seeks to bankroll the removal of Chinese-built telecoms FCC is taking steps to reimburse communications
equipment from the networks of regional mobile and providers with ten million or fewer subscriptions
fixed broadband operators but has faced significant to remove, replace and dispose of Chinese-built
problems to date. The report, which was published on equipment. The reimbursement program is being funded
10 January 2023, notes that only 2% of recipients have by a USD1.9 billion congressional appropriation, but
completed the permanent removal, replacement, and ‘Priority 1 applicants’ (operators serving fewer than two
disposal of all the covered communications equipment million subscriptions) have submitted approximately
and services in their networks. 83% of respondents USD4.640 billion in cost estimates that are reasonable
have made some progress, but not completed the work, and supported. (January 12, 2023) www.commsupdate.com

The Regulatory Unit of Communications Services allocated, ranging from 3300MHz-3400MHz, 3600MHz-
(Unidad Reguladora de Servicios de Comunicaciones, 3700MHz (reserved for state-owned incumbent Antel)
URSEC) has published its first draft of the bidding terms and 3700MHz-3800MHz. Each 100MHz spectrum
and conditions for the planned auction of spectrum package has a minimum initial price of USD28 million,
Uruguay in the 3.5GHz band. Interested parties have been according to the proposal. Rollout obligations include a
requirement to deploy 70 base stations within one year,
given until 13 February to submit comments on the
document, which was formulated following the passing with at least two base stations in a minimum of ten or
of Decree 425/2022 of 27 December 2022 authorizing more departments (excluding Montevideo) required
the allocation by competitive procedure of radio within two years, and at least two base stations in each
frequencies in the 3.5GHz band for international mobile of the country’s 19 departments by the end of the third
telecommunications services. The draft document year. (February 9, 2023) www.commsupdate.com
proposes that three 100MHz lots of spectrum will be
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