Page 75 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2023

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Malaysia Strikes Deal for Wholesale 5G Access

Malaysia’s communications minister
revealed the government has reached a
deal outlining stakes in its wholesale 5G
company Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) for
the nation’s five MNOs. Fahmi Fadzil said in a
statement the Malaysian Communications
and Multimedia Commission’s ‘5G Task
Force’ worked on striking a deal with
CelcomDigi, Maxis, Telekom Malaysia, U
Mobile and YTL Communications. The
MNOs are all processing and finalizing their
shares in DNB. Maxis was the last operator
to sign up for the government’s controversial
singular 5G network plan, having agreed to
join its rivals earlier this month. 5G services
are expected to launch sometime after Q3
from Maxis. Fadzil stated the government
is targeting to deploy 5G coverage to 80%
of the population by the end of the year.

TCRA Issues Determination on New Interconnection Rates

The Tanzania Communications Regulatory service licensees have a monopoly on TZS1.52 on 1 January 2027 until the end
Authority (TCRA) has issued Determination terminating calls on their networks, and of that year. The interconnection charges
No. 6 on Cost Based Interconnection that in order to promote fair competition shall be used for termination of domestic
Charges Among Telecommunication there is a need for regulatory intervention traffic of the telecommunication networks
Network Service Licensees, following an on interconnection charges and that service licensees in Tanzania, although all
inquiry conducted last month to obtain such rates need to be reduced. As such, operators are free to negotiate and apply
input from stakeholders on the proposed effective from 1 January 2023 the TCRA interconnection charges that are lower than
new cost-based interconnection rates. is implementing the following glide path those outlined by the determination. All
The study, which was carried out by M/S for cost-based interconnection charges: networks service licensees are required to
Incyte Consulting, used the Hybrid Long TZS1.86 (USD0.00076) per minute from enter into new interconnection agreements
Run Incremental Cost+ (LRIC+) study 1 January 2023; TZS1.76 twelve months and submit these to the TCRA by 31 July
methodology. The TCRA said it concurs later; TZS1.68 from 1 January 2025; 2023.
with the observation that all network TZS1.60 a year after that; and finally,

Delayed Brazil-Chile roaming pact takes effect

The agreement to scrap cross-border was published in Brazil’s Official Diary of
roaming fees between Brazil and Chile the Union (Diario Oficial da Uniao, DOU)
commences today (25 July), following a on 26 January 2022, concluding a process
six-month postponement. The arrangement that got underway with the signing of a
was originally expected to take effect on 25 Free Trade Agreement between the two
January 2023, only for Chile’s Ministry of countries in Santiago on 21 November
Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Relaciones 2018. As per the terms of the document,
Exteriores, MRE) to request a six-month roaming charges were to be cancelled
delay. The deal covers mobile phone users within one year of the decree being signed.
and IoT devices. The Decree No. 10,949

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