Page 96 - SAMENA Trends - January 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission 2007 are due to expire over an eight-month period in
(TRC) of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has confirmed 2022 … All operators seeking renewal must apply to
that Digicel BVI has formally applied for a renewal of its the Commission no less than twelve months before
operating license, ahead of the expiration of its existing their License expiration.’ In a related development,
British Virgin concession. The original 15-year license was granted the BVI Beacon reports that the TRC will hold a public
consultation regarding revised licensing requirements
on 17 December 2007 and will expire on 16 December
Islands 2022. Digicel now seeks to renew the license for an on 1 March. The report quotes TRC CEO Guy Malone
additional 15 years. The TRC has confirmed that it will as saying: ‘Overall, the proposed amendments to the
send the cellco an ‘Evaluation Report’ on 26 April 2022 unitary licenses have been guided by the changes
and then stage a public hearing on 6 May, during which in the circumstances of the telecommunications
Digicel and ‘any third party with a legitimate interest’ services industry in the British Virgin Islands.’ Obsolete
may make comments or objections on the application. provisions such as a requirement to install and maintain
On 1 June 2021 the TRC invited the country’s telecoms public payphones and to produce a printed directory
licensees to re-apply for their licenses ahead of are expected to be removed, while network resilience,
the expiration of the respective concessions. The data protection and cybersecurity are all expected to
watchdog noted: ‘The four unitary licenses issued feature in the new licensing regime.
to CCT, Flow, Digicel and BVI Cable TV by the TRC in (January 19, 2022) commsupdate.com

The Finance Ministry has decreed that equipment digital services in Chad and much of Africa. High tariffs
related to telecom and internet services, including have also been an issue in Chad, to the extent that a
network equipment, devices, modems and routers, are delegation of senior government ministers – including
exempt from import duties and taxes for the next five the country’s Head of State General Mahamat Idriss
Chad years. The tax break is aimed at stimulating uptake Deby Itno and the President of Chad’s Regulatory
of digital services by reducing the cost barrier to the Authority for Electronic Communications and Post
public and thereby fostering a more active digital (ARCEP) – earlier this month met with the CEOs of Airtel
economy. The high cost of mobile devices is frequently Chad and Moov Africa Chad to press them on the matter
cited as a factor behind the low penetration rates of and call for lower rates.(January 26, 2022) developingtelecoms.com

The Superintendency of Competition (Superintendencia Telefonica Centroamerica Inversiones reached an
de Competencia, SC) says it has reviewed an agreement for the sale of its entire 99.3% stake in
application seeking approval for the sale of Telefonica Telefonica Moviles El Salvador to General International
Moviles (Movistar) and Telefonica Multiservicios Telecom Limited for USD144 million. Telefonica
El Salvador to General International Telecom Limited. The Centroamerica Inversiones is 60% owned by Spanish
antitrust body has evaluated the possible effects telecoms group Telefonica and 40% by Corporacion
on competition and has determined that the deal Multi Inversiones. Telefonica says the deal is part of its
does not require antirust authorization as the buyer asset portfolio management policy based on a strategy
does not have any existing operations in the country of value creation, improving return on capital. The
and four main mobile operators would remain in the closing of the transaction is subject to certain closing
market after the transaction. As previously reported conditions, including the relevant regulatory approvals.
by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, in October 2021 (January 4, 2022) commsupdate.com

The Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA) future’. The watchdog added: ‘The Authority is grateful
has suspended the licensing process relating to to all potential bidders for their engagement and
the issuance of a second full-service nationwide consultations on the process.’ TeleGeography notes
Telecommunications Service License. The process that the ECA and the Ministry of Finance named Global
Ethiopia was initiated on 28 September, while the regulator Partnership for Ethiopia (GPE) – a private consortium
announced its decision to halt proceedings on 22 comprising Safaricom, Vodafone Group, Vodacom
December 2021. The ECA notes that it had ‘received Group, CDC Group and Sumitomo Corporation – as the
concerns and requests from several prospective winning bidder for one of two nationwide concessions
bidders to delay the process and issue the RFP at in May 2021. The second license went unsold, but was
a convenient time in the future’ and promises that subsequently retendered by the authorities.
the licensing process will be relaunched in the ‘near (January 5, 2022) commsupdate.com

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