Page 81 - SAMENA Trends - January 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Communications Ministry Suggests Building Higher Platforms at 1,000

Telco Towers Hit by Floods

The Communications and Multimedia said at a media conference after complet- is about to happen, even a minor one, the
Ministry (KKMM) has suggested building ing the Jelajah Prihatin KKMM program information will reach every mobile phone
higher platforms of around three meters at at Yayasan Kemiskinan Kelantan (YKK) user, even tourists will receive the mes-
1,000 telecommunication towers affected Peringat, here today. Media outlets pre- sage. “Even though we currently have a
by the recent floods. Its Minister, Tan Sri viously reported that repairs to almost system I want a better one, especially af-
Annuar Musa said the move was so that 1,000 telecommunication towers that sus- ter what we went through with the recent
damage to the telecommunication towers tained damage and caused disruptions floods,” he said. In other developments, he
was reduced and to ensure that communi- to telecommunication coverage after the said that 5,000 Keluarga Malaysia Com-
cations would not be cut off, especially in recent floods hit were completed. Annuar munity volunteers have been mobilized
the event of disasters. “I have also asked added that he wanted related parties, in- so far to assist in post-flood efforts, in-
the Malaysian Communications and Mul- cluding the Information Department and cluding cleaning houses. “Other countries
timedia Commission (MCMC) to take the the Department of Broadcasting to draft would take around three months to recov-
initiative to ensure telecommunication a more effective information delivery sys- er from floods like this. Yet we can handle
towers at flood-prone areas would not tem in flood-prone areas, including early the problem within a matter of two weeks.
have equipment at ground level in the fu- warnings. “The current way are conven- “Citizens have received many government
ture. “Communication systems should not tional methods, such as Info on Wheels incentives under Prime Minister Datuk Seri
be cut off even if water rises to 10 feet or (IOW) and such, but they are limited...but Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s leadership, in addi-
even after floods recede. With this initia- I want information that can reach every tion to cash aid, food provisions and elec-
tive, at least those trapped on rooftops of user exposed to disasters wherever they tric equipment being channeled to flood
their houses can send SOS (for help),” he are. “Look at Japan, when an earthquake victims so quickly,” he added.

Telecom Authority to Check Mobile Bills for Accuracy

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority is empowered to inspect or investigate independently without system integration
is introducing a monitoring service the activities carried out or the services with mobile operators. The consulting
to verify metered billing and charging provided by the licensee, at any time. Due service will be called from international
accuracy of mobile services as the to the limited resources for billing related companies, as per the authority. The
increasingly complex and fast-changing complaints, the authority is dependent on authority has invited expressions of
tariffs for telecommunication and internet the billing systems of telecom operators. interest to provide consulting services to
services create challenges of consumer The authority said that it now intends to design, perform tests and measurements.
dissatisfaction over over-billing and perform monitoring of some services on a The authority recently expressed deep
potential penalties by the regulator. The sampling basis independently without the concern after internet service providers
system would have been introduced earlier knowledge of the mobile operators to verify began setting service charges or tariffs
as consumers have long been complaining whether their metered billing and charging on their own without its approval. There is
about being charged unnecessarily and system are reliable or not. The consultant stiff competition in the market to provide
unknowingly while utilizing telecom- company will implement a billing audit service packages of more than 100 Mbps
munication services. "The authority system without prior knowledge of the at competitive rates. As per Article 42
would have launched the system earlier, telecom service provider and also without of the Telecommunication Act 1997 and
but it is now being introduced as part of integration with the mobile operators the condition of the license, a telecom-
its annual program," said Surya Prasad system. The consultant will perform tests munication service provider licensed by
Lamichhane, deputy director. "It might and conduct measurements of voice, data, the authority needs to take approval of
take the current fiscal year to complete SMS and VAS services, simulating real service charge or tariff rates for the service
the project." As per a notice published on customer behavior during peak and normal provided to customers. The concerned
Tuesday, the government has allocated hours, the authority said. The designed stakeholder said that competition is quite
funds for the procurement of a monitoring measurements will check the accuracy of unhealthy in the market with service
service for the verification of metered bills issued by mobile operators for voice, providers apparently focused on increasing
billing and charging accuracy of mobile data, SMS, value added services (VAS) the number of customers rather than the
services. According to Clause 17 of against the Nepal Telecommunications quality of service by providing high speed
the Telecommunication Act 1997, the Authority- approved tariff rates and pulse packages at lower prices. Currently, state-
Nepal Telecommunications Authority durations for 2G, 3G and 4G services owned telecom giant Nepal Telecom has

81 JANUARY 2022