Page 137 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Winner – Mozambique and less populated areas. The upcoming and devastating effect on the lives of
ITU Telecom World Host Country Awards: World Radiocommunication Conference people. ITU joined the Crisis Connectivity
Winner – Tresorit, Hungary 2019 will find solutions to the shared use Charter, a mechanism created between
Highlights of the Forum Summit, ministerial of limited radio-frequency spectrum in the the satellite industry and the wider
roundtables and panel discussions at ITU centenary spirit of consensus. A session humanitarian community, to improve
Telecom World 2019 included: on new radiocommunication technologies coordination and enhance disaster
A ministerial roundtable on the role provided an overview of innovative ways response and preparedness through
of government in deploying the fifth to provide affordable connectivity to all. emergency telecommunications. Satellite
generation of mobile technologies - These include high-altitude platform communications are often used for rescue
5G - and other high-capacity network systems (HAPS), small satellites and non- and relief operations as well as in vital life-
concluded that each country should GSO satellite systems. saving responses, since they remain as
have its own strategy to ensure their The ‘Smart ABC’ program shared insight a resilient solution even when terrestrial
people have affordable access to mobile into the latest advances at the intersection communications have been severely
broadband communications. There is no of artificial intelligence, banking and smart damaged.
one-size-fits-all formula. Policy-makers cities. ITU, in partnership with Cisco, launched
and regulators have a key role to play in ITU is developing the global standards for the Digital Transformation Initiative to
defining this strategy. IMT-2020 which are expected to define equip people with the skills needed to
Radio technologies play a central role “5G” in 2020. Industry preparations for effectively participate in today’s digital
in meaningful connectivity, and global IMT-2020 dominated the debate at a society and economy and accelerate
harmonization of the radio-frequency meeting of Chief Technology Officers. digital transformation.
spectrum is vital for efficient use and The ‘Smart Incubator’ program brought The winners of the ITU Innovation Challenge
economies of scale. A dialogue of together start-ups from developing and the 24 female entrepreneurs who
regulators concluded that governments countries to discuss how international made up the first-ever EQUALS delegation
and industry needed to strengthen standards support business growth. at Telecom are making a positive impact
partnerships and use a mix of both Disasters kill at least one million people in their communities and throughout the
incumbent and innovative terrestrial and each decade and leave millions more world through their tech and tech-related
space services to provide connectivity homeless. When disasters strike, such as enterprises.
not only to urban areas, but also rural Hurricane Dorian, they have an immediate

Malaysia Regulator Changes Tune to Spur Competition

The Chairman of Malaysia’s comm- prices fell 48 per cent, uptake increased start a 5G testbed and showcase in Q4
unications regulator credited progressive 21 per cent, and operators introduced 2019, which will run for six months. A
legislation and operators for fuelling a higher-speed mobile and fixed broadband priority for the fiber plan was to accelerate
rapid national transformation, from being packages. Despite the sharp price network deployments. Top of the list was
an internet laggard into one of Southeast reductions, the total market capitalization optimizing spectrum allocation to enable
Asia’s most competitive markets. In of five telecoms companies in the country introduction of high-speed services. The
a report released in September 2018, increased 25 per cent between October regulator is exploring assignments in six
World Bank slated Malaysia for lagging in 2018 and August 2019. “We’ve proved in bands, and will start a public inquiry for the
broadband coverage and adoption, along one year that nothing is impossible,” he 700MHz, 2300MHz and 2600MHz bands in
with a lack of competition because a single said, adding the government now sees Q4. Ishak said the average processing time
provider held a high market concentration. internet access is not a privilege or a for a tower approval is four-to-six months,
Al-Ishsal Ishak, Chairman of the Malaysian luxury, but a necessity and an economic with an average of 20 forms to complete
Communications and Multimedia driver. “This is the first step and we need and a fee of $2,000 per tower. The country
Commission (MCMC), said it and the to learn. But we are well on the way.” The has 150 local governments and 15 states,
industry acted quickly, releasing a National 5G task force will submit a final report one of which charges $16,000 in fees per
Fiber and Connectivity Plan, and setting to the ICT minister in the last quarter of site.
up a 5G task force a month later. In the the year. The timeline for commercial 5G
three quarters to end-June, fiber access launches is 2021 or 2022, with plans to

137 SEPTEMBER 2019