Page 126 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2022

WHOLESALE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Virgin Media Ireland and Vodafone Ireland Ink Wholesale Network Access

Deal

Virgin Media Ireland has agreed a
wholesale network access deal with local
mobile network operator Vodafone Ireland,
under which the latter will be able to offer
fixed broadband services over the former’s
infrastructure. According to The Irish
Times this represents the first wholesale
deal that Virgin Media Ireland has struck,
and in speaking with the local press
outlet the company’s CEO, Tony Hanway,
claimed the development would support
more competition in the market, while
he suggested other deals could follow.
Commenting, the executive said: ‘We will
continue to compete like mad at retail level
[with Vodafone] but our wholesale division
will sell capacity on our network to third
parties. The first third party to do that is We would always have spare capacity’. upgraded more than 150,000 premises to
Vodafone. It’s a new departure for us and Virgin Media Ireland is currently one year fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) technology,
the thinking is that we’re putting a massive into a three-year upgrade of its entire HFC and is aiming to increase that figure to
amount of money [into] bringing the network to full fiber. Having previously 240,000 by the end of 2022, rising to around
network up to full fiber over three years. Our announced these plans in November one million by 2025.
network would never be at 100% utilization. 2021, the operator is now reported to have

MCMC Extends Public Inquiry Related to Access Pricing Review

A public inquiry on a review of the was given, however. The MCMC’s public
Mandatory Standard on Access inquiry paper released earlier this month
Pricing (MSAP) has been extended by set out its preliminary views on which
the Malaysian Communications and facilities and services in the Access List
Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Having should be subject to price regulation. It is
announced the launch of the inquiry earlier seeking feedback from interested parties
this month, the regulator had initially on several specific issues, including its
set a deadline of 21 November 2022 for approach to developing economic cost
submissions but has now confirmed the models for specific services, particularly on
closing date has been pushed back to 3 use of the long run incremental cost (LRIC)
January 2023. No reason for this extension methodology.

Honduran Watchdog Consults on Tariff Overhaul

The National Telecommunications it opportune and convenient to review they are compatible with current business
Commission (Comision Nacional de the Regulation of Tariffs and Costs of practices. It seeks to promote investment
Telecomunicaciones, Conatel) has initiated Telecommunications Services, contained and development, modernize and improve
a consultation into telecoms tariffs and in the Normative Resolution NR028/99 efficiency, promote free, fair and effective
costs in Honduras. The document – posted and its aforementioned reforms.’ Conatel competition and lay the groundwork to
on the regulator’s website – explains: says it hopes to pave the way for an open ensure greater transparency in regulatory
‘This commission, taking into account the regulatory policy, aimed at renewing and processes.
importance of tariff regulation, considers expanding the existing regulations so that

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