Page 98 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2023

WHOLESALE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Telenet, Orange Sign 15-Year Wholesale Agreement for Fixed Network

Access

Orange Belgium and Telenet have signed
two 15-year commercial wholesale
agreements providing access to their
respective current hybrid fiber coaxial
(HFC) and future fiber-to-the-home (FTTH)
networks. The two companies believe
the deals will foster investment, increase
competition and expand freedom of choice
for consumers. With these agreements,
Orange Belgium secures access to
Telenet’s HFC network, which passed 3.4
million homes in the Flanders and Brussels
regions at end-September 2022, and to its
future FTTH network. Telenet, meanwhile,
will gain access to VOO and sister company
Brutele’s HFC network in Wallonia and
one-third of Brussels, covering around 1.8
million homes passed, as well as future multi-gigabit strategy. With the acquisition ‘Through the agreements, we now have a
FTTH deployments. The entry into force of VOO, we have an ambitious investment clear path to wholesale access in the south
of the deals is subject to completion plan to upgrade the network and to provide of Belgium, complementing our existing
of Orange Belgium’s acquisition of 75% multi-gigabit connectivity to our customers. fixed footprint in Flanders, parts of Brussels
minus one share of cable operator VOO, The agreement on the Telenet network will and the boot of Hainaut in Wallonia in
which is pending EC regulatory approval. complement our ability to provide a HFC addition to our nationwide mobile network
Xavier Pichon, CEO of Orange Belgium, and FTTH multi-gigabit connectivity value coverage. This will enable us to grow into
commented: ‘It is a major step forward in proposition to our customers wherever a nationwide FMC player and provide more
the deployment of our leading nationwide they live.’ John Porter, Telenet CEO, said: choice for customers.’

Niger Abolishes Tax on Incoming International Traffic

The government of Niger is once again investments, particularly in the field of 2018. In return for scrapping the tax, the
scrapping the tax on incoming international infrastructure’. Instead, new minimum rates nation’s telecoms operators committed to
traffic (Taxe sur la Terminaison du Trafic for the termination of international calls to make significant investments in improving
International Entrant, TATTIE), reports Niger will be established. On 1 July 2016 coverage and service quality. On 1 January
Agence Nigerienne de Presse. According the Supplementary Budget Act raised the 2019 the government reintroduced TATTIE,
to a government statement, the move is tax on incoming international traffic from after accusing telecom companies of
aimed at ‘reviving the telecommunications XOF67.5 (USD0.11) to XOF88 per minute. In failing to honor commitments to improve
sector and promoting digital development November 2017, however, the government services.
in Niger through a resumption of voted to abolish TATTIE, effective 1 January

Brazilian Cellcos Ordered to Scrap Chile Roaming Fees

Brazilian mobile operators have been including MVNOs, must comply with the 21 November 2018. As per the document,
ordered to adapt their international roaming new arrangement. TeleGeography notes roaming charges must be cancelled within
offers to eliminate roaming charges that Decree No. 10,949 was published in one year of the decree being signed.
between Brazil and Chile. The deadline was Brazil’s Official Diary of the Union (Diario TeleSintese notes that ‘the matter has not
confirmed by the board of directors at the Oficial da Uniao, DOU) on 26 January 2022, yet been fully deliberated and regulated in
National Telecommunications Agency concluding a process that got underway Chile’, meaning that the Brazilian side of the
(Agencia Nacional de Telecomunicacoes, with the signing of a Free Trade Agreement agreement may need to be tweaked further
Anatel) earlier this week. All providers, between the two countries in Santiago on down the line.
98 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2023