Page 160 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications The Digital Ministry was tipped to be pressing ahead
Commission (NBTC) is being asked to strictly monitor with plans to turnaround the fortunes of state-run
the import of some digital equipment into the country TOT and CAT Telecom, readying a proposal which
amid a fresh worry over its possible threat to national would see the pair complete a merger by mid-2020.
cyber security. The NBTC, which is authorized to give A merger plan was approved by the State Enterprise
Thailand permission for the imports, will be asked to discuss its Policy Office which the Digital Economy and Society
work and ways to prevent such a risk with the House Ministry intends to present to the country’s cabinet by
committee on telecommunications, digital economy October. It is the government’s latest attempt to revive
and society, its Deputy Chairman Setthaphong the loss-ridden organizations, which together employ
Malisuwan said. “We need to work together to develop about 20,000 staff. Buddhipongse Punnakanta, Digital
measures to protect our cyber security,” he said. The Economy and Society Minister, told the newspaper a
worry has been raised as Thailand needs to invest in merger “is the best solution to eliminate redundancy
infrastructure to prepare for new telecommunication of their business operations, as well as creating added
services, including 5G technology which allows for value for their existing assets.” The ministry asked
speedy transfer of data. That may cause the country the operators to submit detailed plans within 45 days,
to import more digital equipment from foreign giant covering the employee and management structure;
technology companies. The products, however, may assets and valuation; and business agreements and
bring threats to cyber security, Col. Setthaphong said. contracts with other private companies. If approved,
The digital equipment used in the banking and aviation the combined company, National Telecom Co, would
sectors is at “high risk” of being attacked and seeing start operations in the second quarter of 2020. It would
private data hacked, he said. Even medical equipment come under the control of the Finance Ministry. The
linked with the internet must be closely watched, he merger of the state enterprises, which the government
added. Col. Setthaphong wants the NBTC and state insists will not lead to job cuts, has long been pushed
agencies working on digital technology to pay more to eliminate overlapping services, covering mobile,
heed to certain digital products which are increasingly broadband and international gateways. (September 5, 2019)
used under the Internet of Things (IoT). Bangkok Post
(September 17, 2019) bangkokpost.com

British telecoms regulator Ofcom has published its unchanged since its spring update in May 2019, with
second interim update to the ‘Connected Nations’ report 4G services reportedly available to 77% of premises
that it initially released in December 2018. In terms of (indoor) at that date, and 4G geographic coverage
the key findings in this update, the watchdog noted that standing at 66%. With 5G connectivity now being rolled
United the number of properties in the UK now able to access out by UK mobile operators, Ofcom said that it plans
to collect information on these deployments for the
superfast broadband – which it defines as having a
Kingdom download speed of at least 30Mbps – had increased to full Connected Nations report that it is scheduled to
more than 28 million by May 2019, representing 95% of publish in December 2019. (September 18, 2019) telegeography.com
homes and businesses. Meanwhile, access to ultrafast
broadband (i.e. services with a minimum 300Mbps The regulator Ofcom is consulting on proposals to
download speed) has also improved, and was available apply code powers to F&W Networks and Fibrenation.
to 54% of premises by May 2019, up from 53% as at The consultations close on 30 September. Fibrenation,
January 2019. In line with this, full-fiber availability a fully-owned subsidiary of TalkTalk, operates a FTTP
has also increased, with almost 2.5 million premises, access network in York and is currently expanding the
or 8%, having access to such technology; Ofcom noted network to the neighboring areas of Ripon, Harrogate
this represented a rise of more than 400,000 properties and Knaresborough. It is seeking code powers to
in the four month to May 2019, ‘with the commercial enable it to operate more independently of TalkTalk
rollout of full fiber now being delivered quicker than and to support the expansion of its network to serve
ever’. Rounding out the key findings related to fixed 3 million premises across the UK. F&W Networks is a
broadband, Ofcom noted that the proportion of new market entrant seeking code powers for plans to
properties without access to a ‘decent’ broadband deploy a FTTP access network serving smaller towns
connection (defined as having downstream speed of across the UK. It plans to build a network to more
at least 10Mbps), remained at 2% of premises. It did than one million homes by 2024, targeting areas not
say though, that it expects this figure to fall once it currently served or not planned to be served by rival
completes work to include the coverage of all major FTTP network operators. F&W Networks might consider
fixed wireless networks in its reporting. With regards to using FWA technology in areas where it cannot deploy
mobile coverage, Ofcom said that this remained largely an FTTP network or to provide outdoor broadband

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