Page 130 - SAMENA Trends - October-December 2024

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Center and 4G base stations in 3T regions; government programs like the development of the
Digital Ecosystem and Human Resources Development: Nusantara Capital City (IKN) and the free nutritious
This priority includes initiatives to prevent and address meal initiative.
the impacts of online gambling through a six-city Through these initiatives, the Ministry of
roadshow, digital skills training through the Digital Communications and Digital Application aims to
Talent Scholarship program, and the goal to activate ensure not only broader, but also faster internet access
25 digital startups; across various regions in Indonesia, supporting digital
Public Communication: The ministry will draft a inclusion and economic growth in underserved areas.
Presidential Regulation on the National Public (November 7, 2024) www.indonesiabusinesspost.com
Communication System to build public trust in key

Italy is moving to introduce measures aimed at ensuring mandate for European Commission President Ursula
that Big Tech firms share the cost of developing von der Leyen. (October 21, 2024) www.aol.com
telecoms infrastructure in the country, Industry
Minister Adolfo Urso said. Telecoms companies argue Telecom Italia (TIM) confirmed it has received a €700
Italy that Alphabet's Google, Meta's Facebook, Amazon, million bid from Italy’s Ministry of Economy and
Apple and Microsoft should bear some of the high- Finance and Asterion subsidiary Retelit to purchase
speed network rollout costs because they make up a Sparkle. In a short statement, TIM Group said the bid
huge part of internet traffic. Deutsche Telekom, Orange, “recognizes the enterprise value” of Sparkle, with its
Telefonica and Telecom Italia call it fair-share funding board of directors given until October 15 to consider
while Big Tech says it amounts to an internet tax. “We the offer. Sparkle operates a global network of subsea
are all working on this issue. It's important that we go cables spanning more than 600,000 km that transmits
in this direction,” Urso told reporters on the sidelines data from across the world. TIM had previously
of an event in Milan. “It makes good sense for big tech rejected a €600 million offer for Sparkle from Asterion,
to contribute to the workload that is then entrusted to Italy's Treasury infrastructure fund back in February as
the large telecommunications networks,” he added. it considered the bid below value. The Italian Treasury
Several ruling politicians have presented proposals wants to take control of Sparkle as it sees the company
in parliament stating that Big Tech should negotiate as a strategic asset given it transmits data across the
technical and economic conditions for the remuneration Mediterranean and to the Americas. The PoC showcases
of telecommunications operators. Our “proposal aims the integration of Quantum Arqit’s technology using
to introduce a contribution from online platforms, very Symmetric Key Agreement (SKA) into Sparkle’s state-
large online search engines and gatekeeper servicers of-the-art network infrastructure, ensuring enhanced
to support investments in electronic communications encryption methods for data transmission across
networks,” an amendment by Andrea Dara, from the geographical borders. The latest bid will be submitted
League party, said. The move is broadly in line with to TIM's board and will be examined “upon completion
previous initiatives laid out at the European Union level of preliminary activities preparatory to the evaluation
before last June's elections, which resulted in a second of the offer.” (October 3, 2024) www.capacitymedia.com

Malaysian operator U Mobile has won the rights to be run by a single operator (as opposed to DNB’s multi-
implement Malaysia’s second 5G network to compete stakeholder model), the MCMC said in a statement that
with original 5G operator Digital Nasional Berhad U Mobile is allowed to collaborate with other telcos
(DNB), leaving rival contenders CelcomDigi and to roll out the network, “subject to the approval of
Malaysia Maxis to rethink their 5G plans. Under the Malaysian MCMC”. U Mobile said in a statement that it is “excited
government’s dual-network model, only stakeholders to collaborate with various stakeholders, including
in DNB were allowed to submit applications to MCMC and other telecommunications companies such
establish a second 5G network operator. In August, U as CelcomDigi and Telekom Malaysia to deliver world-
Mobile, CelcomDigi and Maxis – each of which own class 5G-Advanced services to consumers.” U Mobile
16.28% of DNB as of June 2024 – submitted their also said it will reduce its foreign majority shareholding
applications to run the second network. YTL declined to 20%, “ensuring greater Malaysian control and
to participate, while Telekom Malaysia was disqualified inviting participation from local investors.” U Mobile’s
after it dropped plans to take a stake in DNB in August. biggest shareholder is Singapore-based Straits Mobile
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Investments (a subsidiary of ST Telemedia), which
Commission (MCMC) broke the news on Friday that U owns a 48.3% stake. U Mobile will also have to sell
Mobile was the winner. While the second 5G network will its stake in DNB under the terms of its SSA in order

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