Page 58 - SAMENA Trends - September 2023

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Commission Says Mobile Roaming Regulation Still Important to Competition

remains an important regulatory backstop wholesale access can take place,’ he said.
for promoting competition in mobile The Commerce Commission highlighted
telecommunications markets for the that national roaming had been critical
benefit of consumers. Telecommunications to the development of the New Zealand
Commissioner Tristan Gilbertson explained mobile market and to enabling 2degrees,
in a press release that the regulator had in particular, to provide services across
decided to leave existing obligations in place the country as it progressively built out its
following consultation on whether there own national mobile network. ’At this stage,
were reasonable grounds for considering we don’t consider the telecommunications
their removal. ‘Coverage is a critical feature market has developed to such an extent
of being able to offer competitive mobile that roaming regulation is no longer
New Zealand’s Commerce Commission services at the retail level and national necessary to safeguard new entry and
has decided to retain its ability to regulate roaming is a valuable regulatory backstop promote competitive outcomes in the
national mobile roaming, saying it against which commercial negotiations for market,’ Mr. Gilbertson added.

Citymesh/Digi Sign National Roaming Deal with Proximus, Acquire 400 Sites

Digi Belgium, the joint venture between
Belgian B2B connectivity provider Citymesh
and Romania’s RCS&RDS, has struck a
national roaming agreement with Proximus.
The company claimed the deal marks a
significant milestone in Digi Belgium’s
plans to enter the mobile market, as it
guarantees a five-year access right to
Proximus’ mobile network. In parallel,
Proximus has agreed to sell the new entrant
around 400 mobile antenna sites,
significantly accelerating Digi Belgium’s
rollout. The sites will be transferred to
InSky, the company responsible for
deploying the infrastructure of Digi and
Citymesh. In a press release announcing
the deal, Citymesh group chief strategy
officer Ward Van Ooteghem said: ’We’re on
schedule! In 2022, together with RCS&RDS,
we acquired the package for the new
Belgian telecom player. Creating a complete
nationwide Digi network will take a few
years, but thanks to this agreement, we can
combine the strong Proximus coverage this project succeed. This agreement is a that benefits all parties involved. The fact
with the rollout of our own Digi network. crucial step in our masterplan. The goal that Digi Communications Belgium and
This way, we can enter the market in 2024 remains to break the status quo in Belgium Citymesh Connect choose to collaborate
with a comprehensive mobile offering for and demonstrate that quality and fair with Proximus, highlights our mobile
both consumers and business clients.’ offerings are possible here too. We will be excellence and proves the strength of our
Citymesh Group CEO Mitch De Geest announcing the concrete plans very soon.’ open network strategy, allowing us to
added: ‘These were complex negotiations. Commenting on the agreement, Proximus capture value out of the capacity, coverage
Many thanks to all parties involved for their Group CEO Guillaume Boutin said: ‘I am and performance of our gigabit networks.’
positive mindset and willingness to make convinced we have reached an agreement

58 SEPTEMBER 2023