Page 98 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

WHOLESALE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

CNT and Movistar Roaming Deal to Boost LTE Coverage in 18 Provinces

Ecuadorian state-owned operator (Esmeraldas, Manabi, Los Rios and El Oro), tariff infrastructure sharing agreement,
Corporacion Nacional de Telecomu- 34 in the mountains (Carchi, Pichincha, which seeks to optimize investment by
nicaciones (CNT) and Telefonica’s Movistar Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Chimborazo, companies for the benefit of rural areas
Ecuador have concluded an Automatic Bolivar, Canar, Azuay and Loja), and twelve of the country, promoting continuous
National Roaming agreement to provide in the Amazon (Sucumbios, Orellana, innovation in the offer of services and
customers in 18 provinces with greater 4G Morona Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe), networks, with the aim of satisfying the
LTE coverage. Within the framework of the while Telefonica Movistar will provide needs of society.’ Luis Bentuil, CEO of
government’s Digital Ecuador strategy to access to 26 antennas on the coast Telefonica Movistar Ecuador, added: ‘The
boost connectivity, the two operators have (Esmeraldas, Manabi and Guayas) and agreement will generate more inclusion in
agreed to share access to 94 cell sites (59 nine in the mountains (Pichincha, Santo the Ecuadorian population. We are proud to
owned by CNT and 35 by Movistar) in order Domingo de los Tsachilas and Cotopaxi). reinforce this type of alliance with CNT as
to increase 4G coverage and future access Commenting on the agreement, Martha an efficient alternative to have sustainable
to 5G services. CNT will share 13 base Moncayo, General Manager of CNT said: networks in Ecuador.’
transceiver stations (BTS) in coastal areas ‘This inter-institutional effort is part of the

Azerbaijan to Join Single Roaming Area

Azerbaijan has joined the initiative to Ukraine and Armenia, reports Trend Agreement is expected to be signed in the
create a single roaming area with the other citing Elmir Velizade, Deputy Minister of autumn and take effect on 1 January 2022,
countries of the Eastern Partnership with Transport, Communications and High with roaming costs set to be reduced by
the EU, namely Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Technologies. The Regional Roaming 87% by 2026 under the proposed glidepath.

CRTC Announced a Number of Retail and Wholesale Measures

The Canadian Radio-television and certain conditions. Wholesale rates will be Canada (CNOC), which represents more
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) negotiated between providers, while the than 30 competitive telecoms providers
has announced a number of retail and terms and conditions will be established across Canada, has issued a press release
wholesale measures which it hopes will by the CRTC. This arrangement will be asserting: ‘Without the flexibility afforded
‘spur more mobile wireless competition mandated for a period of seven years through a full MVNO model, independent
for Canadians’. In terms of MVNO from the date it is finalized, which will give carriers are not set up to innovate on
access, the watchdog will require Bell regional carriers time and incentive to services and pricing. We’ve long advocated
Mobility, Rogers and Telus, as well as expand their wireless networks. Perhaps for fairness and choice for Canadians to
SaskTel (Saskatchewan only), to provide unsurprisingly, the CRTC’s decision has help the country catch up to the global
wholesale access to regional wireless attracted condemnation, with critics telecom landscape. Unfortunately, this
providers that have invested in network saying the guidelines do not go far enough. decision sends us in the opposite direction
infrastructure and spectrum, albeit under The Competitive Network Operators of and is simply bad for Canadians.’

Commerce Commission Maintains Regulation of Three Wholesale Services

New Zealand’s Commerce Commission PSTN, and co-location on cellular mobile Tristan Gilbertson, adding: ‘As markets
has announced it will retain regulation transmission sites. ‘After consulting evolve, new retail services are developed
for three wholesale telecom services to with the sector, and interested parties, and wholesale service providers can face
continue to promote competition and our view is that these services continue increased competition to an extent that it
protect consumers. The three wholesale to play an important role in the market may no longer be necessary to mandate
services under review were number and should remain regulated for now,’ access, but we are not yet at this point for
portability, interconnection with a fixed said Telecommunications Commissioner these particular services.’

98 APRIL-MAY 2021