Page 89 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2025

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WHOLESALE NEWS

TRA Approves Wholesale Price Changes to Boost Fiber Broadband Speeds
in Bahrain

to consumers. Broadband connectivity is essential for fostering
inclusive participation in the digital economy. Whether through
5G or fiber networks, it is imperative that consumers have access
to high-quality services at competitive prices. The TRA believes
that these changes to BNET's services will contribute to Bahrain’s
vision of being one of the best-connected nations globally, while
maintaining internationally competitive pricing. Philip Marnick,
General Director of TRA, commented on the development: "To
ensure the prices we pay are globally competitive, we benchmark
In an era where the internet is integral to daily life, supporting prices not just against our neighbors in the GCC, but also against
everything from information access and entertainment to other advanced competitive markets. We already have competitive
commerce and business, Bahrain stands out as one of the most mobile prices, and these changes we have approved will help ensure
advanced communications markets globally. With nationwide 5G the prices we pay for fiber broadband services remain globally
coverage and widespread fiber broadband availability, consumers competitive. In approving the changes, we have also ensured that
in Bahrain can select the broadband services that best meet their all telecommunications operators can continue to invest in their
needs. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) networks and services to ensure we always remain one of the best-
approved changes to the wholesale services BNET provides to connected countries in the world." The TRA remains committed
internet service providers to support consumer and business fiber to fostering a robust and competitive telecommunications
broadband services. This decision will allow the speed of fiber environment that benefits consumers, supports economic growth,
broadband services to more than double at no additional cost and positions Bahrain as a leader in digital connectivity.

Ghana’s 5G Wholesale Network Still Has No Customers: Minister

Two months after Ghana saw the launch Kumasi, and Takoradi, with the goal of listen to us at launch. This is a wholesale
of its first 5G wholesale network, telecoms achieving national coverage by 2026. infrastructure. We built it, and now it's up
operators have yet to lease capacity The NGIC launch was heralded by the to telecommunications companies to buy
from it to offer commercial 5G services, government and stakeholders as a pivotal capacity and provide it to their subscribers,"
according to Minister of Communications move to accelerate digital inclusivity and she told TV3. The Ecofin report notes that
and Digitalization Ursula Owusu. Owusu growth in Ghana. The ministry also said it’s unknown if Telecel, AT Ghana and MTN
first announced plans to introduce 5G to rolling out a wholesale 5G network in have started discussions with NGIC or
Ghana via a shared wholesale network phases would ensures rural inclusion, with what the conditions of leasing 5G capacity
model in May 2024 to help telcos save on subsidies to support underserved areas, will be. The ministry has also stopped short
rollout costs. To that end, Radisys, Nokia as opposed to commercial 5G rollouts that of providing a timeline of when it expects
and Tech Mahindra united with Ascend are typically concentrated in urban centers. operators to start offering 5G services.
Digital Solutions, telecom solutions However, since the November launch, none One sticking point may be the question of
provider K-NET, mobile network operators of Ghana’s main mobile operators – which how much demand for 5G actually exists in
AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana, and the includes NGIC stakeholders Telecel Ghana, Ghana, given that the penetration rate of 4G
Ghanian government to launch a JV called AT Ghana, as well as MTN Ghana – have in the country – which has been available
Next-Gen InfraCo (NGIC) to build out the leveraged the NGIC network to launch their for the last nine years – was just 15% as
shared infrastructure. NGIC was granted a own 5G services, according to the Ecofin of June 2024, according to government
ten-year exclusive license to deploy neutral news agency. During an interview on local figures. The Ministry of Communications
4G and 5G infrastructure to be leased to television channel TV3, Owusu that the and Digitalization plans to boost that figure
operators, and launched its 5G wholesale ministry has done its part to get the 5G up to 80% by 2027.
network at the start of November 2024. ball rolling in Ghana, but it’s now up to
NGIC said it would start rollouts in Accra, operators to actively sell it. “People didn't

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