Page 162 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

the mobile market operates and how OFCOM can best the review by the end of 2021. After that their intention
contribute to the delivery of good outcomes for both is to proceed to Phase 2, which will see them set out
people and businesses. The new Terms of Reference their initial conclusions and any next steps in Q1
are thus intended to provide an early starting point for 2022/23.
that discussion, which is all about gathering evidence. (May 15, 2021) ispreview.co.uk
OFCOM will then aim to publish a discussion paper on

US regulator the Federal Communications Commission involved in working to close a so-called homework
(FCC) adopted final rules to implement a $7.2 billion gap by extending connectivity to schools in need, with
funding scheme covering purchases of connectivity programmes including Verizon’s Innovative Learning
equipment by schools and libraries to boost access scheme providing more than $535 million towards
United during Covid-19 (coronavirus) restrictions. The closing the digital divide among poorer communities.
Emergency Connectivity Fund Program will go towards
(May 12, 2021) mobileworldlive.com
States laptops, tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems and routers,
with the FCC specifying initial funding will be geared The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
around the next school year (2021 to 2022) with any been notified that the Committee for the Assessment
surplus then considered to cover purchases made of Foreign Participation in the United States
earlier in the pandemic. Together with a broadband Telecommunications Services Sector is proceeding
benefit scheme, the emergency connectivity funding with its 120-day review of the application for the
means the US government is “investing more than construction, landing and operation of the CAP-1
$10 billion in American students and households”, system connecting Grover Beach (California) and
acting FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel explained. Pagudpud (the Philippines), following the provision of
Schools and libraries also be able to receive funding for all requested responses from Facebook, China Mobile
purchasing commercially available broadband services International Limited (CMI) and Amazon Data Services.
providing fixed or mobile connection off campus. The The CAP-1 system reflects the reconfiguration of
Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) will the earlier Bay to Bay Express (BtoBE) cable system,
administer the Emergency Connectivity Fund, with FCC the application for which had been withdrawn due to
oversight. Procedures used in the E-Rate program, security concerns. The CAP-1 system will have six fiber
a long-standing scheme covering Wi-Fi equipment pairs and consist of a single 12,000km trunk between
purchases, will be used to provide access to the funding, an existing facility at Grover Beach, California and a
potentially accelerating the process. Rosenworcel said new cable landing station at Pagudpud. When it enters
the new rules allow for “self-provisioning” by some commercial operations (scheduled for Q4 2022), the
school districts if no commercial service is available. cable will have a design capacity of 90×200Gbps (or
The pandemic has resulted in some districts working equivalent) per fire pair using current technology, with
with systems integrators and equipment providers on an aggregate design capacity of 108Tbps.
makeshift internet access, often using fixed wireless (April 30, 2021) commsupdate.com.
access. US mobile and fiber operators are actively

The Regulatory Unit of Communications Services in July 2020, declares that number portability is a
(URSEC) has announced that the government has right of users of mobile telephony services, and two
extended the procedure for the selection of a database months later a committee comprising representatives
administrator which will be responsible for implementing from industry regulators and mobile operators was
and developing mobile number portability (MNP). established to prepare for the introduction of MNP.
Uruguay Interested parties were given until early May to make Following on from this, the government approved the
inquiries and submit their application, with the opening timetable for the long-delayed introduction of MNP in
of the applications and offers originally due to take January, under which tests of the system were expected
place on 13 May. However, this has now been delayed to begin in July ahead of a commercial launch of MNP
to ensure the security and transparency of the process on 1 October 2021. Mobile operators will bear the cost
and the new opening date will be communicated ‘in due of the number transfer process, which should take no
course’. According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms more than three days to complete.
Database, Law 19,889/2020, which was approved (May 17, 2021) commsupdate.com

162 APRIL-MAY 2021