Page 59 - SAMENA Trends - September 2021

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WHOLESALE NEWS

Domestic Mobile Roaming Initiative Begins Operations

The ‘Local Roaming’ (national mobile main cellcos Saudi Telecom Company (stc), the event of coverage gaps on their own
inter-network roaming) initiative backed Mobily and Zain. A press release on Zain’s provider’s network. It is expected that the
by Saudi Arabia’s Communications & website confirms that the first phase of the service will eventually cover around 21,000
Information Technology Commission domestic roaming service was launched villages and settlements spread over 147
(CITC) has been launched under an as planned in the Asir region, giving mobile governorates throughout the Kingdom,
agreement between the Kingdom’s three users access to any available network in including desert zones.

JCRA Issues Final Notice Related to Wholesale Broadband Price Review

The Jersey Competition Regulatory Au- the release of its final notice represented by 2026. As previously reported by Comm-
thority (JCRA) has issued the final notice ‘the final stage’ of the price review. Under sUpdate, in publishing its initial notice ear-
confirming the prices that JT Jersey will be the JCRA’s rulings JT Jersey will now be lier this year the JCRA said it was confident
able to charge for the wholesale bitstream required to lower the price of wholesale that the five-year plan for price caps would
service offered over its full fiber network. broadband from GBP31.25 (USD43) to encourage new retail competitors into the
Having previously issued a final decision GBP27.94 per user per month from 1 Oc- fixed broadband market, while encourag-
and initial notice related to the matter tober 2021, with further reductions to cul- ing ‘other licensed operators (‘OLOs)’ to
back in June 2021, the regulator noted that minate in the charge falling to GBP24.51 invest in their broadband services.

CamTel Signs National Roaming

Deal With MTN

State-owned fixed and mobile operator CamTel has announced
the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with MTN
Cameroon for the implementation of national roaming services.
As such, the firm’s wireless subscribers will now have access to
MTN’s network in areas not covered by CamTel’s own network,
thereby maintaining service connectivity. Last month CamTel un-
veiled its new ‘Blue’ brand name for its fixed, mobile and internet
services, which will be made available nationwide.

3 UK Ditches Free Roaming in the EU

Operator 3 UK followed in the footsteps switched to 3 UK or upgraded to new terms from seeing the maximum amount needed
of EE and Vodafone UK by reintroducing from 1 October 2021 onwards. Customers to provide a service to customers located
roaming fees for users visiting the travelling in the Republic of Ireland, prepaid abroad. It deemed its new pricing to be
European Union (EU), a decision the and post-paid customers signed up before “as simple and affordable for customers
operator explained was caused by too October will not be impacted. The operator as possible”, and expressed belief the
many uncertainties around the cost of explained uncertainties had “made it move will enable it to continue investing in
services used abroad. From 23 May 2022 commercially unviable for us to continue” network and infrastructure improvements.
a charge of £2 per day when roaming offering free roaming in the bloc. Factors EE and Vodafone each plan to restore EU
within the EU and £5 outside the bloc will include varied underlying roaming costs, roaming charges from January 2022.
be applied, affecting customers who have which the operator asserted prevented it
59 SEPTEMBER 2021