Page 114 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

where 5G and internet services are accessible in a stated. She added improving the accuracy of broadband
move to provide users with more accurate information coverage information will enable local and national
about pricing, speeds and availability. While the latest government to “better work together to ensure no one is
maps provide the most detailed information to date, left on the wrong side of the digital divide”. The FCC is
the FCC acknowledged they are a work in progress. required to update mobile and fixed maps as part of the
Previous maps displayed areas where consumers Broadband DATA Act, with funding for the effort coming
supposedly could get access, despite some not actually from a $1.2 trillion government pot. It plans to update
being covered by service providers. The maps display the details with new information from service providers
location-specific information about the broadband around every six months, with consumers able to report
services available instead of relying on census block if fixed-line services shown are not available. Map users
level data previously collected. The updates also offer will also be able correct and add location information.
detail on data rates by street. There will also be a key The draft maps will also allow users to view the wireless
role for the updated maps in government broadband coverage reported by mobile operators. The FCC also
funding projects to bridge the digital divide in rural and launched an updated version of its mobile network
underserved areas. “Our pre-production draft maps are performance app, enabling consumers to challenge
a first step in a long-term effort to continuously improve operators’ claimed coverage.
our data as consumers, providers and others share (November 21, 2022) www.mobileworldlive.com
information with us,” FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission it was announced that the cableco was to be merged
(TRC) has announced the renewal of all four unitary with CCT and it has essentially disappeared from view.
licenses in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). The four Given the year-long consultancy period that preceded
renewed licenses were issued to BVI Cable TV, Cable the license renewal, BVI Cable TV is something of
Virgin & Wireless (BVI), Caribbean Cellular Telephone and a surprise inclusion on the new unitary license list.
Indeed, as per TRC paperwork, the renewal process
Digicel (BVI). The concessions were first issued in
Islands 2007, signaling the start of liberalization in the BVI. The ‘involved in-depth review of applications, allowance
unitary licenses are valid for 15 years apiece (starting for public comments, public hearings, compliance
12 December 2022), but subject to five-year compliance evaluations, and the revision of the terms and condition
checks. All companies offer mobile connectivity – with of the unitary licenses.
the notable exception of BVI Cable TV. In June 2017 (December 20, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

The Zambia Information and Communication entrant possesses sufficient financial capability to raise
Technology Authority (ZICTA) has disclosed that the levels of competition in the Zambian telecoms sector.
country’s fourth mobile network operator Beeline Beeline Telecom – which won its operating license
Telecom will launch commercial LTE-based services in February 2021 – has claimed it will invest USD400
Zambia by the end of January 2023, Broadcast Media Africa million and create more than 450 direct jobs via its
reports. ZICTA Manager of Legal and Regulatory Affairs
mobile service launch. Zambia had approximately
Banji Michelo was quoted as saying: ‘We granted an 19.2 million mobile subscriptions at end-September
extension [from the previous launch target date of 2022, giving a cellular population penetration rate of
30 June 2022] because the company was unable to about 95%, with Airtel currently leading in terms of
commence operations due to challenges with the subscription volume market share (nearly 42%), closely
procurement process owing to COVID-19. But now the followed by MTN (around 39%), with Zamtel accounting
company will launch operations on January 31, 2023.’ for the remainder.
The regulator also asserted that the locally-owned new (December 12, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory of ICTs as part of the National Development Strategy 1
Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has said internet (NDS1). According to the sector performance report for
and data usage in the country has been consistently the third quarter 2022, Potraz Director General Dr. Gift
increasing owing to a more digitalized economy. This Machengete said the postal and telecommunication
Zimbabwe development comes at a time the internet penetration sector has continued to grow as more services move to
the digital space, contributing to increased demand and
rate is expected to rise to 75,4 percent by 2025, as the
Government moves to ensure improved access and usage consumption of telecommunication services. “Internet

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