Page 54 - SAMENA Trends - January 2022

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

NTA’s Free Broadband Service Reaches 15 Thousand Centers

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority has expanded its free NTA has included public institutions across the country for the
broadband service in more than 15 thousand locations across free broadband project. Likewise, the regulator says 5 thousand,
Nepal. The project aims at setting up a 20 Mbps connection in 6 hundred, and 64 ward offices and 5 thousand and 23 Secondary
public offices, schools, and colleges to keep them connected Community schools have received 20 Mbps fiber connections
by reliable fiber broadband. The initiative is a part of the Rural under this project. In the meantime, 4 thousand, 27 health centers
Telecommunications Development Fund under NTA. As per the have received their internet connection. Now, the project is
latest reports, NTA has broadened its free internet service to 15 nearing completion with just 5 hundred, and 89 locations in line
thousand, 3 hundred and 93 areas around Nepal. Till Mangsir, for connections. The regulator has sanctioned a total sum of
6 hundred 79 local level offices have benefited from the free almost 5.7 billion rupees for the project. NTA provisions that each
broadband connectivity courtesy of the Funds. The RTDF operator contribute 2% of their profit to NTA’s RTDF annually. It
broadband project consists of a total of 18 packages where uses the Funds to increase connectivity in public offices in rural
separate ISPs connect the public offices with fiber broadband. areas. The regulator bears all the installations costs and the
So far 16 of those packages in 65 districts have completed the offices can use the service for free for 2 years. Afterward, they will
entire project. Meanwhile, in one package, NTA has fulfilled 50% need to pay as a regular customer. Internet penetration is reaching
of the broadband project in 5 districts. In another, over 30% of higher with each passing month but the digital divide exists. How
the is complete in 4 districts. NTA started this project from 8 NTA should play an even more important role to promote digital
districts that were severely affected by the earthquake of 2072. inclusivity in Nepal? Do share your insights on the topic in the
These districts are Dolakha, Ramechhap, Okhaldhunga, Rasuwa, comments below.
Nuwakot, Sindhupalchok, Kabhrepalanchok, and Sindhuli. But

PTCL and SCO Ink MoU for AJK/GB Collaboration

State-backed telcos the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and the Special Communication Organization (SCO)
have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate
on the development of telecommunications services in the Azad
Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) regions. The
deal will facilitate passive network sharing and SCO’s backhaul
support for the PTCL’s launch of fixed wireless access (FWA) services
over its 3500MHz spectrum. In addition, the pair will offer their
respective fiber assets for backup and redundancy on a reciprocal
basis to ensure uninterrupted provision of services and will jointly
build access networks in cantonments and other locations. Other
measures covered by the MoU include collaboration on multi-
operator RAN (MORAN) and various ICT services. SCO DG Major
General Muhammad Shahid Siddeeq was quoted as saying of the
tie-up: ‘We are pleased to partner with PTCL for upscaling telecom
services in AJK and GB, where SCO has played an instrumental in
connecting the masses through high-quality internet and cellular
services. Through our efforts, we hope to provide an inclusive and
equitable environment that will ensure progress and growth.’

Sovereign Fund Asks Turk Telekom’s Shareholder Banks to Finance Buyout
of Their Own Stakes

Turkey Wealth Fund (TWF) has approached banks holding a according to unnamed sources close to the matter. The stake could
majority stake in Turk Telekom (TT) to finance a planned buyout of be worth around USD1.4 billion based on its current market price,
the telco, Bloomberg reports. The sovereign fund is in preliminary data compiled by Bloomberg show. In a statement to Bloomberg,
talks with the banking consortium – represented by a special TWF confirmed negotiations with the banks are ongoing, without
purpose vehicle (SPV), LYY Telekomunikasyon – and wants to providing further details.
secure a loan from the banks to buy their collective 55% stake in TT,

54 JANUARY 2022