Page 118 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

the population by 2022. The government’s Crown such as on their profitability, revenue, and capital
Infrastructure Partners contracted four companies expenditure. The regime first requires the Commission
to build these fiber networks: wholesale fixed line to determine input methodologies which set out the
provider Chorus, and three local fiber companies rules, requirements and processes for how the price-
(LFCs) – Northpower Fiber, Ultrafast Fiber and Enable quality and information disclosure regulation will apply
Networks. Under the new regulatory regime in Part 6 to the fiber network providers. Interested parties can
of the Telecommunications Act 2001, the Commission submit their comments on the main consultation paper
will set the maximum revenue that Chorus can earn and updated input methodologies by 13 August, with
from its customers and the minimum quality standards cross-submissions due on 3 September. The second
it must meet. Additionally, all four LFCs will be required consultation paper on the financial loss asset will be
to publicly disclose information on their performance, published on 13 August. (July 24, 2020) commsupdate.com

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in Lagos, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Ibadan.
has promised to ensure improvement in the Quality of He informed that 19 complaints were also referred
Service (QoS), and Quality of Experience (QoE), for the to the Commission during the period through the
nation’s 190 million telecommunication subscribers. It Twitter account of the Minister of Communications
Nigeria disclosed that within 15 months – from January 2019 and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami. The Executive
to April 2020, subscribers lodged 26,169 complaints Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta,
against service providers ranging from billing issues, said: “The Commission is pleased that consumers
drop calls, data depletion, network freezing, to sales are increasingly accessing the complaint channels
promotion and unsolicited messages, among others. to resolve second level complaints brought to its
NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, attention.” The EVC noted that the NCC had empowered
in a report, said 98 per cent of the total complaints all its channels to enable consumers to escalate
received were successfully resolved. “In the period complaints earlier reported to their service providers
under review, 26,169 complaints were received and that were not addressed promptly and satisfactorily.
managed to the satisfaction of telecom consumers. Of “It is important to note that the Commission’s actions
that number, 25,575, representing 98 per cent of them in this regard tally with NCC’s mandate to protect
were resolved. “Many of the consumers reverted to and defend the rights of consumers, and to express
either acknowledge the resolution of their complaints faith in the consumer as the lifeblood of the telecoms
or to thank the Commission for its intervention in sector, and therefore deserving of priority attention as
service-related issues between them and their service enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA)
providers,” Adinde stated. He said the complaints 2003,” Danbatta said. He reiterated NCC’s commitment
were received through NCC’s official channels of to taking appropriate steps, in collaboration with
communication, adding that these include 24,481 stakeholders, to continuously improve QoS for voice
complaints received through its contact centers, and data services, adding that such responsibility
1,007 through the consumer portal, and 296 others has become more imperative, in view of the COVID-19
received as written complaints submitted at the NCC pandemic and efforts to effectively contain it.
Headquarters in Abuja, and at its five zonal offices (July 21, 2020) guardian.ng

The Philippines’ House of Representatives The Philippines’ upper house, the Senate, is looking to
yesterday (24 August) approved the renewal of DITO pass legislation that would set the minimum standard
Telecommunity Corp’s operating franchise for another for internet connection speeds in the country, the
25 years. The Dennis Uy-led group, formerly known Manila Bulletin writes. In an interview this week,
Philippines as Mislatel, secured its franchise with 240 votes to Senator Grace Poe explained that Senate Bill No. 471
is designed to direct the Department of Information
seven, with no abstentions, allowing it to continue to
‘construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain and Communications Technology (DICT) and the
wired and/or wireless telecommunications systems’ National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to
across the country. The so-called ‘New Major Player’ ‘put in place a certain standard for the internet services
(NMP), which was anointed as the Philippines’ third offered by telecommunication companies and internet
telco in July 2019, is backed by Chelsea Logistics and service providers’. The senator confirmed the opinion
Infrastructure Holdings Corp, Udenna Corp and China that the two regulatory bodies should be responsible
Telecom. Now renamed DITO Telecommunity, the NMP for setting the ‘proper’ internet speeds, adding that
aims to begin commercial operations in March 2021. Senate Bill No. 471 had been discussed during the
(August 25, 2020) commsupdate.com hearing of the Senate public service committee, which

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