Page 88 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

WHOLESALE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Nkom Proposes Regulation of Wholesale Mobile Market for Three More

Years

on mobile networks) for another three-year the terms of the agreement’. Commenting
period. Having last issued a regulatory de- on that element of the proposed legisla-
cision regarding Market 15 back in May tion, Kamilla Sharma, department director
2020, Nkom has said it has once again for market and services at Nkom, said:
found Telenor Norge to have significant ‘Nkom will provide a regulatory safety net
market power (SMP) in the segment, and that ensures that challengers do not have
as such will require it to provide access to to accept unreasonable terms or prices,
its mobile network to MVNOs on non-dis- but at the same time allows for the parties
Norway’s National Communications Au- criminatory terms. Further, as part of the to be able to negotiate individual terms of
thority (Nasjonal kommunikasjonsmyn- regulatory proposal Nkom has included a agreement to a greater extent.’ Nkom is
dighet, Nkom) has confirmed its intention new resolution ‘that means [MVNOs] them- now seeking feedback on its proposed reg-
to continue regulating Market 15 (whole- selves must take more responsibility for ulation by a deadline of 27 October 2023.
sale market for access and call origination negotiations with network owners about

Kenya Sets New Termination Rate to Apply from March Next Year

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has published
Determination No. 4 of 2023, which establishes a new fixed and
mobile termination rate (FTR and MTR) that will apply from 1
March 2024. From that date the rate will drop from the current
level of KES0.58 (USD0.0038) per minute to KES0.41 for a period
of two years, while the current SMS termination rate of KES0.05
per message will remain unchanged. The decision follows the
conclusion of a ‘National Roaming, Telecommunications Tower
Sharing and Termination Rates Network Cost Study’ carried out
last year. In a press release, the CA said the new rate is informed
by the prevailing economic environment, ICT market dynamics and
the need to strike a balance between the promotion of investment
and the protection of consumers. It added that the decision will
have ‘positive outcomes for both the consumers and operators;
consumers will now enjoy access to a variety of affordable services
across networks while operators will have more price flexibility in
developing more affordable products.

Polish Wholesale Fiber Operator

Boasts 400,000 Subscriptions

Swiatlowod Inwestycje, the Polish wholesale fiber-optic network
operator co-owned by Orange Poland and Netherlands-based
investment fund APG, has revealed that it has 400,000 active
subscriptions across its infrastructure, according to a report
from Telko.in. Third-party service providers who use its networks
include Orange, Play, Netia, Vectra, T-Mobile, Plus and Inea. The
Swiatlowod Inwestycje venture aims to have fiber-to-the-home
(FTTH) networks passing 2.4 million households by mid-2025.

88 OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2023