Page 96 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Australia Steps Up Action to Curb SMS Scams

Australia’s government amended telecoms provided those seeking to identify and for Communications, Urban Infrastructure,
law to make it easier for operators to block scam communications, explaining Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher cited
identify and block scam text messages, in a statement the operator “is vigilant figures from Scamwatch showing reports
a move welcomed by Telstra and Optus. about protecting our customers and these of SMS and phone scams doubled so
In a statement, Minster for Home Affairs amendments provide us with even more far in 2021 compared with 2020, with
Karen Andrews explained the regulatory options to safeguard our customers from Australians losing AUD87 million ($62.2
amendment gives mobile operators the scammers and fraudsters”. She added its million). Fletcher said a government code
authority to block malicious SMS at scale services have never been more critical, but to lower spam calls resulted in more than
and protect Australians from scammers. “are also being used to prey on Australians, 214 million being blocked since December
She added the government is committed particularly the most vulnerable”. Minister 2020.
to working with industry to tackle new
and emerging threats, including scams
which “exploit digital technologies for
nefarious ends”. Telstra CEO Andrew Penn
commented in a blog the government “is
providing the necessary guidance” to
“support the development and use of” new
capabilities to stop scam communications.
Penn stated Telstra received 11,100
reports of SMS scams from customers so
far in 2021 compared with 50 in 2020. He
added Telstra is piloting a tool designed to
detect and block scam SMS as they travel
across the network. Optus CEO Kelly Bayer
Rosmarin welcomed the clarity the change

Transtelco Closes Maxcom Acquisition

Texas-based Transtelco Holding company presides over 25,000km of leading binational B2B digital infrastructure
has confirmed that it successfully fiber throughout the US and Mexico that service provider, this acquisition cements
completed the acquisition of Maxcom passed over 6,000 enterprise buildings. Transtelco’s position in Mexico as having
Telecomunicaciones on 15 November. The Transtelco’s CEO, Miguel Fernandez, one of the most unique, scalable, and low
deal was carried out through ‘concurrent commented: ‘This complex acquisition latency networks with access routes to
and co-dependent public tender offers for marks an important milestone for transport the country’s data.’
Maxcom’s equity and debt’. The combined Transtelco. After 20 years of being the

ICA Approves the Sale of Vodafone, Nova Passive Infrastructure

The Icelandic Competition Authority (ICA, Ardian, a prospective buyer of Mila leaseback of passive mobile infrastructure
known locally as Samkeppniseftirlitid) has (Siminn’s infrastructure company), to unnamed at the time international
given its unconditional approval to the though according to both companies investors for a profit of over ISK6 billion
sale of Syn (Vodafone Iceland) and Nova’s there is ‘minor collaboration and a small (USD47 million). The terms include a long-
passive mobile infrastructure to ITP ehf, ownership relationship, as Ardian has term lease agreement which will guarantee
itself controlled by US fund management a negligible share in the projects in Syn’s access to the passive mobile
company Digital Bridge Group (formerly which both companies have invested’. infrastructure, while all active mobile
Colony Capital). In order to approve TeleGeography notes that in March 2021 equipment will be owned and operated by
the deal, the ICA requested information Icelandic telecoms/media company Syn it.
on Digital Bridge’s collaboration with signed agreements relating to the sale and

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