Page 142 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

users in the country while the rest of the connections are through Axiata warning the duo that their 2G and 3G concessions
WiMAX. The country’s cellphone companies in the first eight could be cancelled in lieu of their unwillingness to pay dues
months of this year saw nearly 5.59 million new users to take totaling BDT125.80 billion (USD1.46 billion) and BDT8.67 billion,
the total subscribers base to 162.583 million at the end of last respectively, which were detected in audits and are currently
month. Bangladesh has currently four mobile companies, three disputed by the two operators. GP and Robi have been given 30
of which are foreign-backed cellphone operators. The number of days to respond to the notices, with GP saying in a statement: ‘This
subscribers of the mobile operators, Grameenphone, Robi Axiata, notice is unjustified and yet another step by the regulator to refuse
Banglalink and Teletalk stood at 75.619 million, 47.760 million, our invitation to seek an amicable solution related to a disputed
34.817 million and 4.387 million respectively at the end of August, audit claim … We will take necessary measures to protect the
BTRC data showed. (September 23, 2019) xinhuanet.com rights of the company, our shareholders and customers against
unwarranted actions by the regulator.’ Due to the impasse with
The Finance Minister Mustafa Kamal has stepped in as a mediator the BTRC, the two operators are currently banned from getting
in the drawn-out conflict between telecoms regulator the approvals for new services and packages and cannot import
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) equipment to maintain their networks. In July 2019 the BTRC
and mobile operators GrameenPhone (GP) and Robi. Following slashed GP’s bandwidth by 30% and Robi’s by 15% for the non-
meetings with representatives from GP, Robi, the National Board payment of dues, but the block was lifted by mid-July as it was
of Revenue and the BTRC, Mustafa Kamal told reporters: ‘We causing issues to subscribers. (September 10, 2019) telegeography.com
will resolve this [issue] within the next two-three weeks … If we
continue with our claims, a resolution will take a long time and The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
that will hamper the mobile operators’ business and restrict our (BTRC) has published its draft guidelines on the licensing of
revenue growth too.’ Earlier this year the regulator requested that cellular services, which aim to unify the mobile concessions of
the duo pay dues totaling BDT125.80 billion (USD1.46 billion, operators in order to reduce ‘operational complexities’. A senior
GP) and BDT8.67 billion (Robi), which were detected in audits BTRC official was quoted as saying: ‘The purpose of the draft
and are currently disputed by the two operators. The cellcos guideline is to reduce the complexity for both the operators and the
had demanded an arbitration, but the BTRC denied the request, regulator … There is no point having separate licenses now for 2G,
claiming that legislation did not allow it. Due to the impasse with 3G or 4G. It requires additional manpower and man hour causing
the BTRC, the two operators are currently banned from getting extra financial involvement.’ Currently, each mobile operator has
approvals for new services and packages and cannot import to maintain one generic license for operating a mobile service, in
equipment to maintain their networks. In July 2019 the BTRC addition to two licenses for 2G services (expiring in 2026), two
slashed GP’s bandwidth by 30% and Robi’s by 15% for the non- for 3G services (2028) and two for 4G services (2033). Under
payment of the dues, but the block was lifted by mid-July as it the proposed guidelines, mobile operators would be allowed to
was causing issues to subscribers. Further, the BTRC threatened provide nine types of services including 2G, 3G, and 4G, under one
GP and Robi with cancellations of their 2G/3G concessions if the concession; the unified license will come into effect from the date
requested sums are not settled, prompting GP and Robi to file of license issuance and remain valid till 18 February 2033, subject
cases with a Dhaka court, seeking permanent injunctions against to the renewal of spectrum. An annual license fee for the single
the telecom regulator’s audit claims. (September 19, 2019) The Daily Star license has been proposed at BDT100 million (USD1.16 million),
along with a 5.5% share of annual revenues and 1% contribution to
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission the social obligation fund. (September 2, 2019) The Dhaka Tribune
(BTRC) has sent out notices to GrameenPhone (GP) and Robi

Egypt

Egypt’s National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has with a view to reaching a resolution to the ongoing disputes that
announced the signing of settlement agreements with three of would satisfy all parties. Meanwhile, the NTRA’s Acting Executive
the nation’s mobile network operators (MNOs), which it said: President, Mustafa Abdel-Wahed, stated that the agreements
‘aims is to resolve the disputes that lasted for ten years as a result have been made within the framework of implementing NTRA
of the appeal of some mobile operators before the judiciary’. In functions that are provided for within the Telecom Act (Law
a press release outlining the development, the NTRA said that 10/2003). He added that rules have also now been established
the agreements would draw a line under the legal battles related for future work regarding interconnection rates, including an
to interconnection rates. The regulator noted that the individual agreement between MNOs to present interconnection rates that
agreements had come about after Associate Minister for Networks they have agreed upon to the NTRA, which would then be subject
and ICT infrastructure, Hossam El-Gamal, conducted ‘intense’ to the regulator’s approval.
meetings with Orange Egypt, Vodafone Egypt and Etisalar Misr, (September 11, 2019) telegeography.com

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