Page 81 - SAMENA Trends - October 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Investing in Fixed Network Infrastructure to Boost Regional Digital Economy

of virtual-reality content through fast and
stable transport networks," he added. He
stressed that broadband networks are
a necessary investment. By promoting
the construction of fixed network
infrastructure and providing effective
digital services, ensure that everyone "can
afford broadband connectivity and quality-
of-service."
However, due to the digital divide, this
goal is still far from being achieved. Bocar
believes that the digital divide means three
categories of divides:
1. Divide between developed nations and
developing nations.
2. Divide between affluent communities
within a country versus poor
communities/households.
3. Divide between population segments.
To bridge this digital divide, a reliable
On October 19, 2021, the Ultra-Broadband and new Internet protocols, are key to ICT infrastructure that can support "data
Forum (UBBF) 2021, themed "Extend providing high-quality and enhanced demands of both people and machines"
Connectivity, Drive Growth", was held network connectivity. To meet the needs of needs to be built. As more and more
in Dubai. At the event, Bocar A. BA, CEO billions of connections in the future, Bocar people and things go online, continuous
of the SAMENA Telecommunications mentioned that an intelligent world "built investment in communications networks
Council, delivered a keynote speech titled on enhanced connectivity" is required. This is required to ensure fast connections
"Investing in Fixed Network Infrastructure intelligent world requires "bigger pipes and and data transmission between people,
to Promote the Development of Regional the right protocol, specifically, the right between people and things, and between
Digital Economy." He shared his insights Internet Protocol", to support "human-to- things and things. In light of this, fiber
and suggestions on how to promote fixed human, human-to-machine, and machine- and IPv6 must be used in fixed network
network infrastructure, provide effective to-machine digital life". Such connectivity infrastructure construction. In Bocar's
digital services to boost digital economy, requires IP addresses. Only IPv6 can view, fiber needs to be physically brought
and build an ultra-broadband network solve "the IP address shortage issue closer to end users. In addition, IPv6
affordable to everyone. Bocar believes forever." Evolution to IPv6+ and enhancing enhanced innovation (IPv6+) needs to be
that the power of broadband needs to be connectivity help "our society to thrive in deployed on each end user device, IoT, or
fully leveraged to accelerate economic the digitally-driven future." Bocar also said cloud service. In this way, not only massive
recovery, create new opportunities, and that an intelligent world starts with ultra- address space can be provided, but also
promote the digital economy, and "the broadband. "By 'ultra' we don't just mean the digital experience quality of all services
Internet is the lifeblood of digital economy." ultra-low latency, ultra-high bandwidth can be improved. Bocar concluded this
He also emphasized that advanced and data transmission rates, and massive speech by calling for faster deployment of
ICT infrastructures, including elastic connections. In fact, we are referring to fibers and transition to IPv6 and IPv6+ to
networks, mobile broadband innovations, the enablement of 5G transport, Internet achieve the goal of extending connectivity
fixed broadband innovations, cloud of Things, data center interconnects, and driving growth.
communications, artificial intelligence, enterprise cloud applications, rendition

Czech Operators Offer Concessions on Network Sharing Deal

Deutsche Telekom and PPF have submitted proposals to EU European Commission issued charges against them in July 2019.
antitrust authorities outlining potential changes to the network IN 2016, the EC opened an investigation into whether the network
sharing arrangement between their Czech units T-Mobile CZ sharing deal between the units would reduce competition in the
and mobile operator O2 Czech Republic. According to Reuters, market by removing the incentive for providers to “unilaterally
the operators – together with infrastructure provider CETIN - are invest in network infrastructure.” The Czech Republic has some
looking to avoid fines for violating EU antitrust laws after the of the highest wholesale data charges in Europe, with MVNOs

81 OCTOBER 2021