Page 100 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

TRA Proposes Changes to BNET’s Reference Offer Process and Deployment

Targets; Aiming to Further Enhance Connectivity and Bahrain’s Global

Competitiveness

region and a global leader. The proposals
offer a streamlined approach benefiting
telecom operators enabling them to
meet market demand. It also ensures
that consumers enjoy a wider range of
reliable and high-quality services. We
firmly believe that enhancing the telecoms
ecosystem will contribute to Bahrain's
economic growth and prosperity, while
fostering a more vibrant and competitive
As part of its commitment to ensuring a well- this, the TRA is proposing clear deployment telecommunications market.” In parallel, the
connected Bahrain, and maintaining world- targets for BNET, aimed at enhancing fiber TRA is inviting stakeholders to participate
class telecoms infrastructure, the TRA availability for everyone. Additionally, the in a workshop. The objective of the
published Consultation Papers proposing TRA aims to streamline the amendment workshop is to facilitate an open dialogue
changes to key aspects of Bahrain Network and approval process for Reference Offers, and promote a shared understanding
(BNET)'s current deployment targets promoting a simpler, faster, and more regarding the future economic regulation
and Reference Offer process. To sustain efficient approach. Philip Marnick, General of BNET, before formally consulting on
Bahrain’s global competitiveness, The Director of the TRA, commented “We the regulatory model that best serves a
TRA proposes to enhance BNET’s service are committed to creating a competitive competitive telecom sector. Enabling the
accessibility at prices that are fair and and consumer-centric environment that sector to continue ensuring Bahrain is one
reasonable. These Consultation Papers ensures everyone can get the fiber services of the best places to establish and operate
underscore TRA’s ambition of ensuring they need at attractive prices. We are also a business, has world leading broadband
ultra-fast fiber services are available to all committed to ensuring Bahrain continues services and supports mobile operators
consumers and businesses. To achieve to be the leading telecoms market in the ability to deploy the latest services.

Spanish Govt Ponders Buying into Telefonica to Counteract stc; Saudis

Reportedly Drop Plan to Raise Stake

The government of Spain is reportedly operation’ as saying that Saudi Arabia’s
weighing plans to take a stake in Telefonica largest telecoms operator had opted not
via the sovereign wealth fund Sociedad to progress the conversion at this time but
Estatal de Participaciones Industriales neither it nor Telefonica would comment
(SEPI) in a move designed to counter Saudi on the report, and the Spanish government
Telecom Company (stc) if it attempts to also had no immediate comment. Last
become the Spanish telecom giant’s largest month stc acquired a 9.9% stake in
shareholder. Reuters cites a filing to the Telefonica for a total consideration of
stock market regulator dated 31 October EUR2.1 billion (USD2.23 billion), though it
in which SEPI noted that the plan ‘does added it did not intend to acquire control or
not assume a decision on an acquisition’. amass a majority stake. ‘This investment
Alongside this development, El Economista is in line with stc’s growth strategy to it said. TeleGeography notes too that as
reports that stc has ‘dropped’ a proposal expand by acquiring stakes in value-added Telefonica is considered a ‘defence service
to convert the 5.0% stake in Telefonica strategic assets in promising markets, provider’, Spain’s Ministry of Defence has a
it holds as derivatives into shares, and along with benefiting from the return on say in acquisitions and holdings between
instead keep its current stake at 4.9%. The these investments to support stc’s growth, 5% and 10%, unless the buyer commits not
newspaper cited people ‘familiar with the expansion, and capital recycling efforts,’ to request a seat on the board.

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