Page 97 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

NTA to Slash Mobile Interconnection Charges

NTA is planning on slashing one to another mobile network in Nepal. other networks are Rs.2.00. The charge
interconnection charges on phone calls. NTA has now fixed the charges at 0.10 for NTC postpaid on outgoing calls is
The telecom authority is implementing paisa per minute. After this implements, Rs.1.50 paisa per minute (excl. taxes).
“Nepal Interconnection Guidelines 2076” the interconnection calls would drop by With the Interconnection 076 Guidelines,
from Magh 1 that will see the service fees 0.44 paisa when a call is made between these off-net call charges will come down
reduced by 0.44 paisa. Interconnection fees Nepali telcos. This includes calls among to Rs.1.56 for prepaid and Rs.1.06 paisa
are a type of charge one mobile company Nepal Telecom (NTC), Ncell, and Smart on postpaid SIM cards. Meanwhile, the
pays to another when a call is established Cell. The slashed interconnection charges guidelines also make changes to Ncell’s
between two separate networks. NTA made will apply from Magh 1 onwards. This shall off-net call charges. Previously, outgoing
the decision to drop the interconnection reduce the costs of off-net mobile calls calls charges from Ncell to other mobile
charges on calls after its board meeting on on both prepaid and post-paid services. networks were Rs.1.99. This will drop to
Kartik 29. Previously, the telecom operators Currently, the inter-operator call charges Rs.1.55 paisa after NTA implements the
paid 0.54 paisa when a call was made from on outgoing calls from NTC prepaid to new costs policy. Smart Cell’s present
off-net call costs of Rs.1.92 will also
come down to Rs.1.48 after the new tariff
sets in. The revised interconnections
charges were about to implement from
Chaitra 2076. The subsequent effects on
telcos’ incomes derailed it’s coming into
effect. The COVID-19 had also subdued
its applications. Now, NTA is strictly
demanding that the telcos comply with
the new tariffs. The charges will enforce
on domestic interconnection calls only.
NTA says it will revise the interconnection
charges on international calls after
studying COVID-19’s effects on telcos and
their income profiles.

Nkom Proposes Updated Legislation Relating to Telenor’s Copper Network
Shutdown Plans

Norway’s National Communications Au- it encounters matters beyond its control, access to Telenor’s copper network to its
thority (Nkom) has unveiled proposed for example where a construction project own.’ As such, the newly-proposed regu-
changes to legislation related to fixed by another company requires existing cop- lation stresses that Telenor has a duty to
line incumbent Telenor Norge’s planned per lines to be removed or rerouted. How- maintain wholesale customers’ access,
switch-off of its legacy copper network. ever, according to the regulator, the current even in those instances where the copper
With the watchdog claiming its proposals system ‘partly undermines’ the purpose network owner encounters issues outside
are designed to ensure competition in the behind its existing copper shutdown rules, of its control. Meanwhile, Nkom has said
fixed broadband sector during the transi- with Nkom’s competition department di- it will continue to allow Telenor freedom
tion to more modern access technologies, rector, Hans Jorgen Enger, saying: ‘The of choice with regards to what technolo-
it has set a deadline of 6 December 2021 extent of copper closures appears to be gies can be offered in place of the legacy
for comments from interested parties. In a high, and closures are notified to Telenor’s copper infrastructure, with these includ-
press release regarding the matter, Nkom wholesale customers with short deadlines ing both fibre-based broadband and fixed
noted that it has already directed Telenor and little information … We therefore be- wireless broadband. Finally, the watchdog
to maintain access to its copper infra- lieve that the current regulation related to has said its new proposals emphasize that
structure until September 2025. Under ex- “matters beyond Telenor’s control”, does wholesale customers should be more in-
isting regulations, the watchdog notes, the not sufficiently address the consideration volved in the copper network shutdown
operator does have scope to close its cop- of predictable access to the copper net- process and be provided with ‘sufficient
per network before September 2025 where work for companies that buy and resell and timely’ information.

97 NOV-DEC 2021