Page 130 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

UK Could Switch Off Copper Networks by 2027

Broadband providers are reportedly in talks way that promotes competition, benefiting wayleaves; connectivity mandates for new
with the UK government and regulator every builder of fiber networks, rather than builds; and tackling the skills challenge. The
to set a deadline to switch off copper simply reinforcing BT Openreach’s existing National Infrastructure Commission has
networks and move customers over to market dominance. Consumers should estimated that building and maintaining
fiber. Sky News reports that BT is leading have the power to switch to any full fiber a full-fiber network across the UK would
the way by drawing up a six-point plan network. “CityFibre stands ready to play cost £33.4 billion over 30 years. The
and that the government is meeting with its part in transferring the nation’s homes letter, signed by the leaders of the Internet
industry representatives from BT, TalkTalk, and businesses onto a new generation of Services Providers’ Association, the
CityFibre and Openreach. It’s understood fiber networks.” According to the latest Federation of Communications Services
that copper would be phased out region- statistics from Ofcom, the UK’s full-fiber and Independent Networks Cooperative
by-region, although the 2027 cut-off date broadband coverage now stands at 8%. Association, said, “Nationwide full-fiber
for the switchover has been likened to the Ofcom acknowledged that technologies coverage is not a can that can be kicked
end of the analogue TV signal in 2012. other than fiber could also deliver Gigabit down the road, and these issues need to
Greg Mesch, Chief Executive Officer at speeds, noting Virgin Media’s latest copper- be resolved by your Government within the
CityFibre, stressed that competition would based cable transmission technology as next 12 months to ensure that industry can
be key in such a switch-over. He said, “In well as 5G wireless networks. UK Prime continue to accelerate rollout. “Industry is
light of our funded and mobilized Gigabit Minister Boris Johnson has stated his goal ready and willing to work with yourself, your
City program to deploy wholesale full for 100% rollout of fiber-optic broadband Government and the new Digital Secretary
fiber infrastructure to at least five million to properties across the UK by 2025. In to ensure that Britain’s connectivity is fit
homes, Ofcom’s exclusive focus on BT August, UK telcos published an open for the future. But that work needs to start
Openreach as the vehicle for migration letter, outlining their requirements to make now, and 100% fiber coverage requires a
from copper to fiber is wrong. Retiring the this vision a reality. Issues pinpointed 100% commitment from Government.”
copper network needs to be managed in a included: reform of the ‘fiber tax’; action on

Philippines NTC Renews NOW Telecom’s Operating License

telephony communications and Group, a Singapore-based company that
multimedia transmission capability across offers a shared-communications fiber
the country. It is also looking to prioritizing network. Through this partnership, NOW
local government units and agencies Telecom intends to offer Fifth Generation
for its broadband data transmission (5G) plans and offerings. “There are many
services. NOW Corp. President Rodolfo players, in the first place. If you talk about
Pantoja lauded the approval, saying this mobile, tatlo lang [there are only three],”
paved the way for a more level playing NTC Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said
field. “We have been providing guaranteed on the sidelines of an event in Bonifacio
broadband to enterprises, including the Global City, Taguig City, referring to
government sector. We reiterate our belief PLDT Inc., Globe Telecon Inc. and Dito
An affiliate of NOW Corp. reported that that at present, there is an insufficiency Telecommunity Corp. According to him, the
it had secured government approval to in telecommunications facilities that can firm’s spectrum — “3500 MHz mid-ban”
continue offering telecommunications effectively address the needs for day- — is limited. “You cannot really compete
services. In a disclosure, the Velarde- to-day real time operations, and at the [with the major players. You’re only]
led company said the National same time provide disaster mitigation hitting [a] niche [market],” Cabarios said.
Telecommunications Commission (NTC) during time of emergencies,” he said NOW Telecom received in February 2018
had granted NOW Telecom’s request to in the disclosure. The NTC’s approval a 25-year extension for its congressional
extend its “authority to install, operate and comes as the agency’s chief expressed franchise, allowing it to operate until
maintain…mobile telecommunications, skepticism over NOW Telecom’s bid 2043. The firm, which had shown interest
data and voice telecom network, trunked to become the country’s fourth major to become the country’s third major telco
radio dispatch communications system, telco player after it signed last month a player, has said it was open to partner with
digital trunked radio system, and memorandum of understanding with the chosen player Dito — formerly the Mislatel
telecommunications operations.” NOW Philippine Fiber Optic Cable Network Ltd. Consortium — as it acknowledged the need
Telecom could also upgrade its system Inc. on the nationwide rollout of a fiber to forge deals with other industry players
to a nationwide wireless communications optic cable network. Philippine Fiber Optic in its bid to further boost its presence in
network, allowing it to deliver mobile Cable Network is owned by the HyalRoute the local market.

130 SEPTEMBER 2019