Page 158 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

information report, the authority has recommended payment Radio Communication (License) Rules. The changes make certain
of Rs733 million in foreign currency for bandwidth and service frequencies (within ‘30MHz to 10.5GHz’ ranges) available for
charges of different telecom operators for the period mid-June telemetry services to non-telecoms operators at a cost of NPR12
to mid-July. The authority has also recommended payment of million (USD91,000) per MHz. NEA is expected to vastly expand its
Rs289.19 million in foreign currency for the telecommunications fledgling smart meter network with the eventual aim of installing
equipment of different telecom operators for the same period. six million devices. In February this year, IoT Time reported that
According to Khanal, the authority had recommended merging NEA had been waiting three years for the opportunity to gain
telecommunications operators to the government in 2017. “We spectrum licenses in the 393MHz-398.5MHz band.
have made a few updates to the previous draft,” he said. Service (October 6, 2022) NepaliTelecom
providers wishing to merge have to submit an application to the
authority with an audit report and declaration. If the paperwork The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has permitted
fulfils the requirements, the authority will provide an agreement in government-backed Nepal Telecom to sell and distribute M2M/IoT
principle for the merger and facilitate the process. The authority SIM cards with a new dedicated number range, having previously
has declared that aspiring telecommunications service providers ordered the telco to cease selling the SIMs last year. A report from
need to have a paid-up capital of Rs50 million. "Hundreds of old Nepalitelecom.com says that the ban had caused revenue losses
telecommunications licensees do not have the required amount ‘in millions’ as the operator missed out on connecting ‘a possible
of paid-up capital," Khanal said. “They will have to come up with 400 M2M/IoT SIM cards every day.’ Nepal Telecom representative
the required paid-up capital themselves or by merging with other Ranjit Lohiya confirmed that the company was resuming offering
companies.” (October 11, 2022) www.kathmandupost.com SIMs for device-to-device operations using a special number range
as per the National Numbering Plan. The report added that Nepal
Nepal Electricity Authority has belatedly been permitted to apply Telecom had previously ’sold over 70,000 M2M SIM cards.’
for frequencies to operate next-generation remote smart energy (September 16, 2022) www.commsupdate.com
meters, following a Council of Ministers decision to amend the

Oman

A license for postal and related services activity has been granted ers, should from now on obtain a prior permit before starting to set
to three more companies, two of which are international and one up telecom towers whether on a public or private land. According
is local, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), said. to the new regulations, telecom towers should be set up at least
A statement issued online by TRA said: "The authority issues a three meters higher than the adjacent building and should be sur-
license for postal services and related services to international rounded by a fence excluding the towers that are set up on building
companies (foreign investment) and a local company classified edges. The regulations issued by Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Chair-
under the category of small and medium enterprises, which are: man of the Board of Directors of the Telecommunications Regu-
iMile, Mandoobkum and Safe Way Express Cargo.The number of latory Authority on Sunday, apply to both permanent and interim
licensed postal companies is currently 40." The objectives of the telecom towers. As per the regulations, a licensee should, before
licenses issued by the Authority are as follows: submitting an application to set up a telecom tower, negotiate with
1. To compete to provide better services in the postal services the other licensees in the same area in order to share existing tow-
sector. ers with them or provide proof of the impossibility of sharing the
2. Provide options for beneficiaries. tower to the TRA. The licensee should propose three locations not
3. Keep pace with the growth in e-commerce. within densely populated areas for setting up the tower to the au-
4. Provide permanent and temporary job opportunities, and training thority to select the most suitable one. The licensee should com-
opportunities. plete the construction of the tower within a period of 120 days.
(September 20, 2022) www.timesofoman.com Service and maintenance of the telecom tower should be carried
out only by one of the companies authorized by the TRA. The tele-
Natural or legal persons, authorized by Telecommunications Reg- com tower should have sufficient capacity to accommodate three
ulatory Authority (TRA) to set up, manage or operate telecom tow- more users at least. (September 19, 2022) www.omanobserver.om

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