Page 127 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2022

WHOLESALE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

TalkTalk Creates Two New Wholesale Divisions; Announces Plan for B2B

Ethernet Supply Tender

growth in both areas, the integration of Finally, TalkTalk confirmed its intention
newly acquired Virtual 1, and the focus to launch a competitive tender for B2B
on accelerating take up in high bandwidth Ethernet services, noting that a combination
[fiber-to-the-premises] FTTP and Ethernet of the Virtual1 and TalkTalk network
services across the group’s Wholesale footprint now extends to over 3,000 on net
Platform’. TTG’s newly formed TalkTalk exchanges, placing 1,500 high bandwidth
Business Wholesale Services division Ethernet orders per month across on net,
will reportedly offer premium and high off net and latent solutions. TTG claims
bandwidth services to resellers, aggregators to have over 25% market share of the UK’s
and system integrators, and will trade under B2B high speed Ethernet market and, in
two names, TalkTalk Wholesale Services the first three months of this year, said
and Virtual1. Meanwhile, the group’s it took 31% share of all new Openreach
Consumer Wholesale Services division connections. According to the company,
UK-based TalkTalk Group (TTG) has is reported to have more than one million the tender presents a ‘major opportunity
announced the creation of two new residential subscriptions on its books, for both large scale and smaller providers,
wholesale divisions to support both its including those belonging to SSE Phone covering 14 areas across the UK’, while
B2B and consumer wholesale segments. and Telecom – which TalkTalk struck a deal it also ‘reflects the newly competitive
In a press release the company said that to acquire from OVO Energy last month – environment in wholesale infrastructure
this development reflected ‘the material as well as Telecom Plus and Shell Energy. supply’.

CRAN Introduces New Interconnection Rates

The Communications Regulatory Authority and this reduction shall therefore enable
of Namibia (CRAN) has introduced new more competition in the sector … For now,
interconnection rates for mobile/fixed consumers will not directly benefit from
voice calls and SMS. Under the regulator’s this reduction in terms of paying less for
decision, from 1 October the mobile/fixed voice calls but may indirectly benefit from
termination rate (MTR/FTR) will be NAD0.05 increased competition in the industry which
(USD0.00291) per minute, down from will increase the variety of services and
NAD0.10 previously, while termination of products. CRAN is, however, investigating
SMS will remain at NAD0.01 per message. other possibilities to reduce voice call rates,
CRAN CEO Emilia Nghikembua said: ‘This to give consumers relief over the medium
decision is important as one of the largest term and a decision will be communicated
cost components for operators providing in due course.’
voice services is that of interconnection,

Malaysia 5G Wholesale Network Faces Delay

Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), the company last-minute decisions not to participate. minority shareholders. Telekom Malaysia
managing Malaysia’s controversial single DNB said transaction documents need YTL Communications, the two smallest
5G wholesale network, confirmed two to be updated to account for equity mobile players in the country, were the first
mobile players pulled out of a deal to take subscriptions reduced to four operators, to agree to take stakes, and were followed
stakes in the state-owned entity, requiring which will require additional internal by Celcom Axiata and Digi, which are in the
the shareholding arrangement with the approvals. It noted discussions with all process of merging. DNB said 5G coverage
other four operators to be renegotiated. six operators on the terms for access to reached about 30 per cent of populated
In s statement, DNB explained despite the 5G network are progressing under a areas and is on track to hit the target of 80
share agreements being confirmed and separate and independent track. Earlier per cent coverage of populated areas by
ready to be executed by six MNOs by the in the week, Reuters reporting Maxis 2024.
30 August deadline, two companies made and U-Mobile turned down an offer to be
127 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022