Page 162 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

a framework for the approval of communications other things, sets rules for consumer protection and
equipment for connection to communications networks prescribes the procedures to be followed by a Licensee
in Nigeria, pursuant to sections 130 to 134 of the in preparing approved consumer codes of practice,
Nigerian Communications Act, 2003. It is pertinent in accordance with section 106 of the Act.” Danbatta
to add that the Commission has also introduced stated that all (5) five regulatory instruments are existing
Business Rules for Type Approval to address issues instruments which are being amended to reflect current
that cannot be catered for in the Regulations and realities. According to him, one of such realities is that
ensure that the Type Approval process is seamless. with the deployment of 5G, it will become necessary
The second instrument, Guidelines on Short Code for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to invest heavily
Operation in Nigeria, is intended to prescribe a standard in communications infrastructure. The EVC further
of practice for providers of short code services and to disclosed that the NCC has been working assiduously
provide a revised framework for the provision of these to implement the Nigerian National Broadband Plan
services and for the protection against misuse. “The (NNBP) 2020 – 2025, the National Digital Economy
third instrument, being the Guidelines on Technical Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020 – 2030, its Strategic
Specifications for the Deployment of Communications Management Plan (SMP) 2020-2024 and its Strategic
Infrastructure, provides standards to be adhered to Vision Implementation Plan (SVIP) 2021 – 2025 and
by Communications services providers/operators, achieve its mandate. According to him, this drive has
designers, fabricators and installers of Communications culminated in the Broadband penetration in Nigeria
towers and laying of fibre optic cables towards increasing by 91.70 per cent in the last four years. “The
ensuring environmental safety and sound engineering country’s broadband penetration increased from 21.21
practices. The fourth instrument, is the Guidelines per cent in April 2017 to 40.66 per cent in April 2021. The
on Advertisements and Promotions, which provides Commission’s data show that in April 2021, 77,605,500
minimum requirements and standards for promotional million Nigerians were connected to the Internet, up
advertisements by licensed telecommunications from 40,481,570 million in April 2017.
operators in Nigeria. Finally, the fifth instrument, which (August 10, 2022) newsdiaryonline.com
is the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations, amongst

The Government said it will make a final decision offered on the market. There is a certain price that
on the partial privatization of operator Telikom PNG we are negotiating with the potential buyers,” said
soon. Acting Managing director David Kavanamur told Kavanamur. The operator’s company pension plan has
local publication The National, that the state-owned been given priority in the privatization process as the
Papua New operator is looking at prices being offered for shares in National Superannuation Fund (Nasfund) was named
the company. “‘The partial privatization is an ongoing
as one of the entities to carry out due diligence on the
Guinea process that’s continuing with potential partners … deal. Nasfund chief executive officer Ian Tarutia told
We have issued an information memorandum and The National in December the company had signed an
they are continuing to undertake due diligence … We MoU with consortium partners to invest in Telikom. In
are looking at one partner and hopefully we should the same month, the government gave the green light
complete that. But (it’s) depending on what’s on the for the sale of Telikom assets valued at 1.4 billion.
table, and what they are offering for the assets being (August 23, 2022) www.developingtelecoms.com

The Ministry of Transport and Communications deployment of connectivity to 107 public institutions
(Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones, MTC) has and Wi-Fi zones in 66 rural locations. The program will
launched broadband network expansion programmes cost USD28 million and will feature the rollout of 586km
in Tacna and Moquegua that will benefit around 40,000 of fiber as well as the construction of 77 nodes.
Peru residents of both regions. The Tacna project represents (August 19, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
investment of USD25 million and will comprise the
deployment of 630km of fiber and the construction of The new Electronic Communications Law (LCE), which
74 nodes serving 103 public institutions in the region, transposes the European Electronic Communications
including schools, police stations and health centers. Code (EECC) into national law and was approved by
In addition, Wi-Fi zones will be established at 52 rural parliament on 21 July 2022, has now been published in
locations, providing free internet access for residents the Official Gazette (Diario da Republica) and will take
and visitors. Similarly, the Moquegua project will see the effect in 90 days (by 14 November 2022). In April 2022

162 JULY-AUGUST 2022