Page 76 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

WHOLESALE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

CTU Considering Cap on Wholesale Mobile Data Prices

The Czech Telecommunication Office large operators sell to virtual operators’, regulations. MVNOs in the Republic have
(CTU) is reportedly considering plans adding that if implemented, the proposed complained that T-Mobile’s wholesale
to cap wholesale mobile data charges regulations are likely to remain in place data charge is ‘40% more expensive
levied by the country’s three main network ‘for three to four years’ depending on than the price it offers itself’. The CTU’s
operators – O2 Czech Republic, T-Mobile the outcome of a sector review that is announcement comes a few weeks before
and Vodafone – on Czech virtual operators due to be completed by mid-September elections take place in the country with the
in a bid to drive competition. Business 2021.The paper notes that the European government seemingly hoping to make
daily Hospodarske Noviny cites CTU Commission holds T-Mobile, O2 and the good on earlier promises to cut mobile
chairwoman Hana Tovarkova as saying: country’s infrastructure operator CETIN, charges.
‘I believe we will propose a ceiling for partly responsible and has accused
wholesale prices at which the three current them of certain breaches to EU antitrust

CTU Considering Cap on Wholesale Mobile Data Prices

services, interconnection link services, “The CRA was keen that the prices for
transmission link services, and duct wholesale services approved by the CRA
products. The CRA issued the Order with are in line with international regulatory
the aim of maintaining a competitive, fair, best practices to ensure the provision of
and developing telecom sector in Qatar. advanced and reliable telecom services
Under this Order, the telecom service across Qatar and building a competitive
The Communications Regulatory Authority providers started implementing the set and innovative Qatari telecom sector that
(CRA) issued an Order to direct Ooredoo wholesale charges from June 1, 2021. attracts investment. For fixed termination,
Qatar and Vodafone Qatar to implement The CRA’s Order will remain in effect until prices will remain stable for 2021, 2022
specific wholesale charges for 2021, the CRA issues another Order amending and 2023 while mobile termination prices
2022 and 2023. Wholesale charges are the wholesale charges. The new charges will decrease by 11%, 12% and 13%
the price that telecom service providers supersede the previous ones and are respectively in the same period,” said His
pay to each other to interconnect and applicable for telecom service providers’ Excellency Mohammed Ali Al-Mannai,
access their networks e.g., termination Reference Offers approved by the CRA. President of CRA.

Windstream Wholesale to Expand Transport Network

Windstream Wholesale has commenced
the initial work to add fiber to three routes
on its transport network. The routes in
question are: New York City to Albany to
Montreal; Jacksonville to Savannah to
Myrtle Beach to Raleigh; and Tulsa to
Muskogee to Little Rock. According to
the telco’s press release, the project will
pull high-count fibers through existing
conduits on some spans but involve
the construction new paths on other
segments. Windstream notes: ‘Diverse
routing options protect networks against
outages, while delivering coast-to-coast
transport.’

76 JUN-AUG 2021