Page 124 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

House GOP Leaders Unveil Bills to Streamline Broadband Deployment

Energy and Commerce Committee and Latta, for their focus on wireless business case can be made to support
Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) broadband deployment. “As we have seen broadband providers serving in rural areas,
and Communications and Technology throughout the pandemic, connectivity freeing up resources by streamlining and
Subcommittee Republican Leader Bob has been essential, and we appreciate simplifying time-consuming permitting
Latta (R-OR) unveiled a comprehensive the committee’s commitment to bringing processes can help promote the efficient
package of 26 bills that aim to streamline broadband to communities across deployment of broadband networks. This
broadband infrastructure deployment. America. We look forward to continuing to is critical as NTCA members work tirelessly
The legislation would promote new and work with the members of the committee to connect as many rural Americans as
upgraded infrastructure deployments, so that our nation can reap the benefits of possible and bridge the digital divide.
incentivize competition and consumer 5G,” said WIA VP Government and Public NTCA is pleased that Congress is taking a
choice, right-size regulations for building Affairs Matt Mandel. The Competitive renewed look at streamlining the process
infrastructure across industries, and Carriers Association also praised of broadband deployment, specifically on
facilitate broadband deployment on lawmakers for their efforts. “Promoting public lands and in existing rights-of-way.
federal land. The cornerstone measures new infrastructure deployment by NTCA looks forward to future conversations
would streamline permitting for wireless reducing unnecessary barriers, clarifying as these bills move forward.”
providers to deploy new or co-located federal, state, and local zoning authorities,
macro towers and small cells. The bills and fostering competition will result in a
would preserve local authority over siting win-win-win for consumers, industry, and
wireless infrastructure while also making the economy,” said CCA President/CEO
it clear localities must respond to siting Steve Berry. “At a time when consumers
requests within set timeframes. They also are relying on mobile broadband services
set deadlines for localities to approve more than ever before, it is a real positive
or deny siting requests. The Wireless that policymakers are focused on ensuring
Infrastructure Association thanked the broadband can be deployed in unserved
Republican members of the committee, and underserved areas.” NTCA, The Rural
and the leadership of Reps. Walden Broadband Association said: “After the

Gulfsat Madagascar Awarded Backbone Operator License

Gulfsat Madagascar has been designated and Telecommunications (Autorite 2018 to provide ‘fixed and mobile data
the country’s second backbone operator, de Regulation des Technologies de transfer services’ and ‘resell additional
ending Telma’s monopoly on fiber-optic Communications, ARTEC) awarded Gulfsat national transmission capacity’. A key part
transmission infrastructure, reports a ten-year license on 17 April, authorizing of the government’s plans to liberalize the
local news outlet 2424.mg. Speaking to the company to build, install and deploy sector, a decree adopted in December 2019
journalists following a meeting at the new fiber-optic transmission capacity. authorized a second backbone operator
National Assembly, telecoms minister Gulfsat, which markets commercial to construct its own national network,
Andriamanohisoa Ramaherison confirmed services under the ‘Blueline’ banner, was potentially duplicating Telma’s existing
the Agency for Regulation of Technology previously awarded licenses in August infrastructure.

Hong Kong Awards First 5G Subsidies

The Office of the Communications construction sites; and remote e-sports to 50 per cent of the direct costs related
Authority (OFCA) approved the first batch mini-car racing. Other applications to deploying a 5G project, with a cap of
of applications for a government subsidy to received cover the use of IoT, big data and AI HKD500,000 ($64,513). Applications are
promote early deployment of 5G services, in the recycling, transportation, education accepted until 30 November on a first-
with funding awarded to three projects and entertainment sectors. OFCA launched come, first-served basis, OFCA said. HKT,
and additional requests being processed. the scheme in early May to encourage 5G 3 Hong Kong and China Mobile Hong Kong
Initial projects include a real-time remote rollouts, as part of a fresh round of efforts introduced 5G services on 1 April, with
monitoring and support service to improve to fight Covid-19 (coronavirus). Under the SmarTone following in late May.
elevator safety; 3D building modelling for program, the government is funding up

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