Page 128 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

GCRA Issues Infringement Proceedings Against JT and Sure

A provisional finding by the Guernsey has now published its latest findings. In a by fair and open competition but through
Competition and Regulatory Authority press release, Guernsey’s regulatory body a secret anti-competitive arrangement’.
(GCRA) has claimed that mobile network alleged that Sure and JT had colluded Further, the GCRA added that it had
operators (MNOs) Sure and JT have by sharing commercial information and provisionally concluded that collusion
infringed the Bailiwick’s competition law agreeing secretly that JT would pull out of took place through a ‘coordinated
by entering into an agreement that had operating existing 4G and future 5G mobile exchange of information between JT and
the object of preventing competition. With networks in Guernsey, in return for Sure Sure over more than a year’. Both MNOs
the former pan-Island regulatory authority doing the same in Jersey. This agreement have now been given the chance to make
– the Channel Islands Competition and to trade mobile network infrastructure, representations to the GCRA before it
Regulatory Authorities (CICRA) – having the GCRA claimed, would have given each issues a final decision on the matter, with a
issued a draft decision regarding the of JT and Sure a far stronger position as deadline of 18 June 2021 set for the duo to
matter back in January 2020, the GCRA MNOs in their home Island ‘achieved not make their submissions.

NBTC and TRC Conduct a Bilateral Meeting

Office of the National Broadcasting
and Telecommunications Commission
hosted the 3rd Bilateral Meeting with
Telecommunication Regulator of
Cambodia (TRC) in virtual meeting format
with an aim to enhance telecommunication
sector development and coordinating
frequency usages in ASEAN region. On
19 April 2021, Office of the National
Broadcasting and Telecommunications
Commission (Office of the NBTC) hosted
the 3rd Bilateral Meeting between Office
of the NBTC and TRC, Cambodia where the
meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation
between the two organizations in
reference to an MoU signed on 24 August
2015. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic,
Office of the NBTC and TRC agreed to
hold the 3rd meeting in a virtual meeting
format in order to continue their close
collaboration. Honorable General Sukit
Khamasundara, Commissioner Acting
Chairman of the NBTC, presided over the regulatory and policy environments of OTT (Over-The-Top) initiatives in ASEAN.
opening ceremony and delivered welcome both organizations, discuss regulatory The collaboration between the two
remarks. This was followed by reciprocal challenges, lay out ways forward for organizations will enhance both parties’
remarks by H.E. Chenda Thong, Chairman bilateral cooperation over the coming five regulatory efforts and improve the
of TRC, Cambodia. Mr. Trairat Viriyasirikul, years, and strengthen partnerships in other landscapes of their telecommunication
Deputy Secretary General Acting Secretary international forums. TRC is interested regimes, leading to high standards and
General was assigned to chair the meeting in the 5G auction in Thailand, one of key efficiency in delivering telecommunication
and head the Thai delegation. H.E. milestones in the country's development, services for citizens of both countries.
Kimsann Srun, TRC commissioner, headed as well as numbering portability services. Office of the NBTC aims to develop and
the Cambodian delegation. Also present Office of the NBTC shared information on enhance collaboration between the two
were Mr. Sutisak Tantayotin, Deputy regulating spectrum management, current countries in terms of telecommunication
Secretary General of Telecommunications telecommunication market regulatory services and coordinating frequency
Cluster and executives from both sides. trends, and telecommunications licensing usage in ASEAN, as ways to significantly
The objectives of the meeting were procedures in Thailand. Office of the strengthen relationship between the two
to exchange information about the NBTC and TRC agreed to push forward organizations.

128 APRIL-MAY 2021