Page 88 - SAMENA Trends - September 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Taiwan’s National Communications Commission (NCC) designed to accelerate installation of 5G base stations.
has announced plans to measure the transmission The Executive Yuan, the executive branch of the
speeds of 5G services from the first quarter of next government, is understood to have allocated between
year. With the regulator noting it has yet to examine TWD9.9 billion and TWD15.4 billion (USD358 million-
the speeds offered over the 5G networks deployed by USD556 million) for 2021 and TWD5.5 billion for 2022
Taiwan the nation’s cellcos since their launch last year, it has as part of an incentive scheme which will reward 5G

indicated it plans to publish the results of its speed operators who build more cell stations than they had
tests in 2023. NCC Chief Secretary Chen Chung- pledged in their business plan. With the NCC having
shu confirmed that the agency was still finalizing its promulgated rules governing the distribution of these
methodology to measure speeds, as well as how to subsidies in March 2021, it is now planning to finish
present the results, with the executive stating: ‘Most network inspections in October, with the commission’s
5G services around the world use a non-standalone vice chairman, Wong Po-tsung, noting: ‘In August, we
model, meaning that part of the service would still be distributed about TWD2.9 billion of this year’s budget
offered through 4G cell stations … Through a strategic after we reviewed firms’ cell station construction plans
partnership agreement, Asia-Pacific Telecom uses … We are to verify whether they have achieved what
the 5G spectrum and network owned and built by Far they promised, with the survey to be completed by
EasTone Telecommunications. Under these situations, the end of next month.’ According to Wong, operators
we have to figure out proper ways to present the results could receive their full subsidies for this year by the
of a speed test.’ In related news, the government will end of November 2021, subject to the findings of the
soon award subsidies to Taiwan’s mobile network inspections.
operators (MNOs) as part of an incentive scheme (September 13, 2021) The Taipei Times

The Ministry of Communication and Information mobile phone connected to the national broadband.
Technology has signed a partnership deal with TTCL admits it had insufficiently connected the
the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited public to broadband, owing to limited yet expensive
(Tanesco) that will see the former expand broadband infrastructures. Energy Minister Dr. Medard Kalemani
Tanzania connectivity to reach all Tanzanians. The deal to said the partnership will facilitate TTCL to use
be executed by the Tanzania Telecommunications Tanesco's electric poles to distribute its fiber-optic
Corporation (TTCL) involves using Tanesco's ready- cables nationwide. "This is a more efficient way, simple
installed infrastructure to improve connectivity. The and just to expand broadband connectivity," he said.
move will triple the government's pace to build fiber He noted that with the new partnership, Tanesco will
optic internet connectivity in the country. Official also use some of the infrastructures already installed
figures show the national optic fiber connectivity by TTCL to supply power in the country. Tanesco is
is currently 8,319 kilometers, almost half below the currently linking dozens of districts to the national grid
government plan to reach 15,000 kilometers by the by building large scale power distribution lines. The
end of this year. The Minister for Communication and lines which include the 680km-line in Iringa, 520 km-
Information Technology, Dr. Faustine Ndugulile said Somangafungu, 422km -Geita, 398km -Tabora and
yesterday that the national broadband is a must in 392km line in Mpanda will also be used by TTCL to link
the 4th Industrial Revolution. "The Fourth Industrial the public to the national broadband service. Permanent
Revolution is built on a combination of various digital Secretary in the Ministry of Communication and
and modern technologies such as block chain, drones, Information Technology Dr. Zainabu Chaula explained
internet, artificial intelligence and more... to be able to that the ministry and TTCL believe it will expand
effectively use all these technologies, we need reliable broadband to at least 4,449.7km, more than twice the
communication and power supply," Ndugulile said at planned 1,880km in the Financial Year 2021/22. This
the signing ceremony which was also attended by the new partnership will, however, enable over ten regions
Minister for Energy, Dr. Medard Kalemani. Dr. Ndugulile in the Tanzania Mainland to be linked to the nation's
said the ministry's plan is to ensure at least 94 per cent fiber connectivity. 21 regions of Dar es Salaam, Coastal,
of the citizens have access to broadband coverage. Morogoro, Mbeya, Dodoma, Singida, Manyara, Arusha,
Currently, Tanzania's internet users have reached Tanga, Kilimanjaro, Tabora, Shinyanga, Mwanza,
29.15 million people, with the majority going to the Kagera, Lindi, Mtwara, Ruvuma, Rukwa, Kigoma and
web through their cell phones. The cost per Mbps is Mara are the only connected regions. TTCL Director
also relatively high at five US dollars (about 11,595/-). General Mr. Waziri Kindamba and Tanesco Director
The government and experts hope the new broadband General Dr. Tito Mwanuka said the corporations have
will lower the internet cost across the country. "We agreed on a modality of implementing, serving and
want every home with electricity connectivity to have rehabilitating the infrastructures.
internet access," he said, emphasizing that the time (September 11, 2021) allafrica.com
is now for every house to have internet, television and
88 SEPTEMBER 2021