Page 162 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

2020 for a commercial switch-on, though it noted that a total of 90MHz in the 3.5GHz band for TWD45.675
it is still considering pricing models for subscribers. billion (USD1.5 billion), and 600MHz in the 28GHz band
Meanwhile, the report notes that – according to NCC for TWD618 million. Subsequently, in March 2020 the
Chief Secretary Hsiao Chi-hong – the cellco has cellco at selected Nokia to oversee its 5G radio network
already deployed 5G-enabled base stations across deployment in the Central and Southern Region of the
the country’s six special municipalities: Taipei, New country, while another vendor, Ericsson, announced
Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung. it had been contracted ‘to provide the 5G platform to
Chunghwa emerged as the biggest spender in the support [Chunghwa’s] future network’.
frequency sale that closed in January 2020, securing (June 4, 2020) commsupdate.com

MTN Uganda has confirmed that it has completed concession for a further twelve years, effective from
its license renewal, which was agreed in March this 1 July. MTN is Uganda’s largest cellular operator by
year after lengthy negotiations with the government. subscribers, accounting for around 50% of all users.
The cellco is paying USD100 million to extend its (June 16, 2020) commsupdate.com
Uganda

The National Commission for State Regulation of decision (No. 270) requires approval from the Ministry
Communications & Informatization (NCCIR/NKRZI) of Justice. Earlier in the month the NCCIR was forced
issued a decision on 14 July 2020 to cut the unified to cancel a similar decision (issued in May) to cut the
wholesale mobile termination rate (MTR) and long- termination rates, after the Ministry refused to register
distance voice call termination rate from UAH0.12 it. The NCCIR’s latest decision brings forward the date
Ukraine (USD0.0044) to UAH0.08 per minute from 1 October of effectiveness by three months from its original
2020. As published on the watchdog’s website, the proposal of January 2021. (June 16, 2020) commsupdate.com

British telecoms regulator Ofcom has published will be in December 2022 in Salisbury, and in June
a consultation seeking views on its plan to defer 2023 in a further 117 exchange areas. The watchdog’s
a decision on proposals to remove copper wire WFTMR consultation had clarified too that the aim of
regulations until after it publishes its final decisions in the copper retirement proposals is designed to promote
United its Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review (WFTMR). fiber investment by shifting the focus of regulation
Having originally set out its proposed policy on copper
from copper to fiber, and to support the migration to
Kingdom retirement as part of the published in January this year, fiber services. An important aspect of those proposals
Ofcom said that instead, it will now canvas WFTMR included a period of regulatory transition after which,
consultation opinion on a revised proposal to wait when Openreach has completed ultrafast coverage of
until after it makes its final decisions in the WFTMR an exchange area, Ofcom would lift the existing charge
statement to consider how to define the circumstances control on the anchor copper service. However, the
in which premises can be excluded from the definition regulator has noted that there may be ‘very limited
of a completed ultrafast exchange area. Based on circumstances’ in which Openreach may not be able
the regulator proposals at the start of the year and to connect some premises in an exchange area with
Openreach’s announced plans, it anticipates that the ultrafast services, ‘despite all reasonable efforts’.
earliest that the copper charge control will be removed (June 26, 2020) commsupdate.com

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) awarded a total of $32.5 million. Below are the recent
has approved its 13th and 14th sets of COVID-19 awards for New York organizations. Association to
telehealth program applications, expending the total Benefit Children—Children’s Mobile Mental Health
$200 million in funds provided by the CARES Act. Since Clinic in New York, New York, was awarded $174,270
United the first set of awards were announced on April 16, for laptop computers, tablets, smartphones, and
videoconferencing equipment and software for the
2020, the applications of 536 providers in 47 states
States plus Washington, D.C., and Guam were approved. remote treatment of mental health conditions, including
Specifically, 74 New York State organizations were a range of pediatric conditions, such as anxiety and

162 JUNE-JULY 2020