Page 99 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

almost 9,000 customers who were on a Belong National Commission (CRTC) has launched its third call for
Broadband Network (NBN) plan with a maximum applications for its Broadband Fund, aimed at projects
download speed of 100Mbps and a maximum upload to improve access to fixed and mobile broadband
speed of 40Mbps, to a service with a maximum upload internet services across Canada. The third call
speed of 20Mbps. According to the ACCC, Telstra failed focuses specifically on the following types of projects:
to notify customers of the reduction in the upload speed, telecommunications transport infrastructure projects;
and did not lower its charges, even though the cost mobile infrastructure projects that provide or upgrade
charged by NBN Co to Telstra was AUD7 (USD5) a month mobile connectivity along major roads; and ‘projects that
less for the new service. ACCC Commissioner Liza increase satellite transport capacity (operational costs)
Carver said of the matter: ‘We allege 8,897 consumers in satellite-dependent communities.’ Applications are
who signed up to a Belong NBN plan between May due by 18 April 2023. The CRTC’s Broadband Fund will
2017 and October 2020 were affected by this change provide up to CAD750 million (USD554 million) over five
and deprived of the opportunity to make an informed years to support the digital economy. The CRTC launched
decision about their internet service.’, Whilst Telstra its first call for Broadband Fund applications in June
acknowledged this failure in respect of approximately 2019, targeting the territories – i.e. the northern part of
2,500 customers between March and April 2021 and Canada consisting of Yukon, Northwest Territories and
provided them with a one-off AUD90 credit, the ACCC Nunavut – and satellite-dependent communities. Under
notes that more than 6,300 subscribers are yet to that call, the regulator allocated funding to five projects.
be informed of the changes to their fixed broadband The watchdog launched the second call for Broadband
plan. As such, the ACCC is now seeking ‘declarations, Fund applications in November 2019, targeting eligible
penalties, consumer redress, costs and other orders’ areas across all of Canada. To date, under the second
with regards to the matter. call, the CRTC has allocated funding to 44 projects.
(December 6, 2022) www.commsupdate.com In total, approximately CAD226.5 million has been
dedicated to 49 projects in nine provinces and two
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications territories so far. (December 1, 2022) www.commsupdate.com

China’s telecom sector regulator the Ministry of Industry China Unicom to refarm frequencies in the 900MHz
and Information Technology (MIIT) has awarded the band currently used for 2G, 3G and 4G services for its
nation’s first private 5G network licence to Commercial 5G systems. The operator noted that the propagation
Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), China Daily writes. The characteristics of the spectrum in question – 904MHz-
China award enables the state-owned aircraft manufacturer 915MHz/949MHz-960MHz – enable wide coverage,
to use spectrum in the 5925MHz-6125MHz and with low transmission loss, strong penetration and low
24.75GHz-25.15GHz ranges to operate its own private network deployment costs. As such, the MIIT’s approval
5G networks. The decision is part of a move to promote for the use of the band for 5G will enable Unicom to
the take up of 5G technology for industrial applications. rapidly promote 5G coverage in rural and remote areas
Such industrial internet services have been a key focus with less investment, improving connectivity for citizens
of the 5G development programmes of the nation’s in those areas, ‘expanding low-frequency 5G industry
telcos. China Mobile, for example, claimed in June this potential’ and ‘building a strong network base’ for the
year that it had developed more than 300 5G showcases provider’s future development. China Unicom claimed
(industry-specific solutions) and had signed over 11,000 a total of 201 million 5G package subscriptions at
agreements for industrial 5G projects, including smart the end of September 2022. Notably, this figure only
hospitals, smart factories and smart mines. China represents the number of Unicom customers with a
Telecom, meanwhile, reported that it was working on tariff that permits them to access the 5G network and
around 9,000 5G industry projects at the same date. does not take into consideration network availability or
(November 30, 2022) www.commsupdate.com the compatibility of the user’s device.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (November 4, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
(MIIT) has approved plans for full-service provider

The Communications Regulatory Commission to COP5.56 from 1 January 2024 and COP3.51 from
(Comision de Regulacion de Comunicaciones, CRC) 1 January 2025. Regarding MVNOs, meanwhile, the
has ordered domestic mobile operators to implement CRC says it has ‘modified the remuneration conditions
a 37% reduction on their interconnection charges from in order to encourage free negotiation between
Colombia 1 January. As per Resolution 7007 of 2022, from 1 companies, as well as the exploration of new business
January 2023 mobile termination rates (MTRs) will drop models. (December 20, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
to COP8.81 (USD0.002) per minute, before decreasing
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