Page 160 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

largest mobile carriers: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and access on a house-by-house, location-by-location
UScellular. These four wireless service providers basis. “Broadband internet access” means that service
voluntarily submitted the coverage data to create the is available or could be connected within 10 business
map. Specifically, the map shows where customers can days with a standard installation. The FCC will
expect to receive 4G LTE service at a minimum download standardize location data through the use of a common
speed of 5 Mbps and upload speed of 1 Mbps. To use dataset of all structures in the United States where
the map, consumers can enter in specific addresses mass-market fixed broadband internet service can be
or zoom in to locations to see where 4G LTE mobile installed. It will also validate provider-submitted data
data and voice service is available. Users can also and allow users to challenge the information shown
click boxes to show broadband and voice coverage on on the maps. Decent broadband mapping has become
separate layers. Or they can click all the boxes to show extremely urgent as the government is poised to infuse
the gaps in coverage across the U.S. The FCC, under billions into broadband infrastructure in its effort to
its Acting Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, is determined to close the digital divide. For instance, the FCC recently
get more thorough and accurate maps of broadband said it was ready to release the first batch of funding —
coverage across the country. Under her leadership, the some $311 million — from the Rural Digital Opportunity
Broadband Data Task Force was created in February Fund (RDOF) Phase I auction. But in the same breath
2021 to implement long-overdue improvements to the agency revealed a long list of winning bidders have
the FCC’s broadband data and maps. The new 4G already defaulted on their obligations and hinted many
LTE map was created by the Broadband Data Task more could soon follow suit. The main reason that
Force. The new mobile map provides a preview of how RDOF bidders are backing out of their commitments is
mobile data will be collected by the FCC in the future because once they dug into the details of their service
as it improves the specificity and consistency of its areas, they discovered that many of these areas were
broadband availability data. For fixed internet service, already served — the maps they had initially relied on
the FCC aims for its maps to show broadband internet just weren’t accurate. (August 7, 2021) fiercewireless.com

The Regulatory Unit of Communications Services July ahead of a commercial launch of MNP on 1 October
(URSEC) has announced that a database administrator, 2021. However, the timetable was subsequently
which will be responsible for implementing and delayed in May in order to ensure the security and
developing mobile number portability (MNP) in the transparency of the process. Mobile operators will bear
country, has been selected. The Number Portability the cost of the number transfer process, which should
Uruguay Committee chose the Cleartech – Cietel consortium as take no more than three days to complete.
its first choice for the role for the period 2021-2026, with (August 23. 2021) commsupdate.com
the Sonda Uruguay – Mediafon Datapro consortium
coming in second place. The two companies were the The Regulatory Unit of Communications Services
only prequalified bidders that were approved by the (URSEC) has issued a number of resolutions to lower
Number Portability Committee at the end of June. The fixed and mobile termination rates charged by the
preferred bidder has been given five days to either accept country’s telecoms operators. Effective 1 June 2021
or reject its selection. According to TeleGeography’s the charge for termination in state-owned ANTEL’s
GlobalComms Database, Law 19,889/2020, which was fixed line network from the Claro and Movistar networks
approved in July 2020, declares that number portability has been set at UYU0.31 (USD0.007) per minute (plus
is a right of users of mobile telephony services, and two VAT), a decrease from the previous rate of UYU0.77.
months later a committee comprising representatives Regarding mobile termination rates (MTRs), effective
from industry regulators and mobile operators was 1 June the URSEC has established a rate of UYU0.88
established to prepare for the introduction of MNP. (plus VAT) per minute for calls between the wireless
Following on from this, the government approved the networks of Claro, Movistar and ANTEL, compared to
regulatory conditions, general rules and timetable for the previous provisional rate of UYU1.7 per minute.
the long-delayed introduction of MNP in January, under (June 29, 2021) commsupdate.com
which tests of the system were expected to begin in

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission government on 1 June, the TRC noted: ‘The four unitary
(TRC) of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has invited licenses issued to CCT, Flow, Digicel and BVI Cable TV
the country’s telecoms licensees to re-apply for their by the TRC in 2007 are due to expire over an eight-
licenses ahead of the expiration of the respective month period in 2022. The license renewal process is
Virgin Island concessions next year. In a press release issued by the governed by section 24 of the Telecommunications Act

160 JUN-AUG 2021