Page 104 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

MTNL Could Be Closed, With Assets Transferred to BSNL

The government of India is considering losses and mounting debts would weigh
closing the struggling state-backed fixed down the merged entity. A closure of MTNL
and mobile operator Mahanagar Telephone would instead enable BSNL to take over
Nigam Limited (MTNL) and transferring MTNL’s operations in Delhi and Mumbai
its operations to sister company Bharat without impacting its own financial health.
Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), abandoning The government recently approved a third
plans to merge the two firms. A report from ‘revival package’ worth INR890.47 billion
Livemint cites an anonymous government (USD10.79 billion) for BSNL to support its
official as saying that MTNL’s ongoing 4G and 5G network rollouts.

EC Approves Telenet-Fluvius Fiber Joint Venture

European Commissioner (EC) Thierry on implementing national legislation and shall not be applied to any vendor without
Breton (pictured) bemoaned slow progress another had issued a warning to operators justified procedure and adequate hearing.
in slapping restrictions on vendors deemed on use of ZTE and Huawei equipment. As an economic operator in the EU, Huawei
high risk by national authorities in the Huawei told Mobile World Live it “strongly holds procedural and substantial rights
region, highlighting those excluding ZTE opposes and disagrees with the comments and should be protected under the EU
and Huawei from 5G were justified and in- made by representatives from the European and Member States’ laws as well as their
line with recommendations. In a speech Commission”, adding “this is clearly not international commitments.” The vendor
made as the EC published a progress report based on a verified, transparent, objective went on to highlight its commitment to
on the implementation of guidance set-out and technical assessment of 5G networks”. security pointing to its Cyber Security
more than three years ago in its toolbox It also took issue with “publicly singling out Transparency Centre in Brussels and noted
on 5G cybersecurity, Breton complained an individual entity” as a high risk vendor it is “committed to delivering globally-
only ten European Union countries had (HRV), noting doing this “without legal certified and trusted products and services,
restricted or excluded high risk vendors. basis is against principles of free trade”. “It connecting millions of Europeans”.
This is despite almost all having the ability is of paramount importance to emphasize
to within national laws. He noted the “slow” that the discriminatory HRV assessment
progress being made “poses a major
security risk and exposes the [European]
Union’s collective security”. In an associated
statement referred to by Breton, the EC
confirmed nations imposing rules to restrict
of ban Huawei and ZTE were “justified and
compliant” with recommendations in place.
It added “consistently with such decisions,
and on the basis of a broad range of
available information, the Commission
considers that Huawei and ZTE represent
in fact materially higher risks than
other 5G suppliers”. Alongside outlining
progress across the economic area, the
EC announced it will avoid exposure to
Huawei and ZTE in its own procurement of
telecommunications services. The toolbox
implementation report found ten nations
has imposed restrictions on use of 5G
equipment from so-called high risk vendors,
with one publicly announcing an outright
ban on Huawei and ZTE products. It noted a
further three EU member states are working

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