Page 116 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Malaysian MNOs Still in Discussions Over Terms of 5G Network Access

Agreement

Malaysian mobile network operators (MNOs) Celcom Axiata, Digi network. According to local press reports, the MNOs issued a
Telecommunications, Maxis and U Mobile have said they remain joint statement regarding the matter, saying that discussions
in talks with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia with DNB relating to commercial access agreements would only
Commission (MCMC) over the key terms of the 5G reference begin once the terms of the RAO had been settled. The quartet
access offer (RAO) recently published by Digital Nasional Berhand noted: ‘To that end, the MNOs remain in discussions with MCMC
(DNB), the company which is rolling out the country’s sole 5G to seek more clarity on some of the details in the published RAO
… A recent analyst report may suggest that open topics between
DNB and its key prospective customers had been resolved, but
this interpretation would be inaccurate.’ Of note, the MNOs have
suggested that ‘a majority of concerns and issues previously
raised with MCMC and DNB have not yet been adequately
addressed … including key principles proposed for the RAO to
be consistent with industry best practices. As such, it has been
claimed by the cellcos that in its current form the RAO would not
enable affordable 5G connectivity for Malaysian consumers and
businesses and could hinder the uptake of the next generation of
mobile broadband connectivity in the country.

Celcom, Digi Merger Faces First Regulatory Obstacle

Malaysia’s telecoms regulator raised a number of competition of issues. If cleared, the merged business would have 19.1 million
concerns related to a planned merger of Celcom Axiata and Digi, mobile connections as of Q1 2022, data from GSMA Intelligence
with the broad nature of the issues highlighted likely to halt or showed. Market leader Maxis ended the quarter with 12 million.
delay the expected conclusion of the deal in Q2. The Malaysian Axiata Group and Telenor Group agreed the merger in June 2021.
Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) advised
the operators they to need to collectively address retail and
wholesale areas it underscored as requiring remedial action. It
highlighted the retail market for mobile and fixed broadband data
services; mobile voice and text messaging; and the wholesale
market for voice, messaging and mobile broadband services,
including network sharing arrangements. MCMC’s preliminary
findings are part of a merger assessment process begun in
November 2021 designed to give the operators an opportunity to
comment on the agency’s concerns and is not a final decision.
The companies have 30 days to response to MCMC’s statement

JCRA Launches Consultation to Test Interest in 5G Services

The Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA) has launched intent. Responses to the consultation have been requested by a
a consultation which seeks to reassess ‘interest and demand’ in deadline of 29 April 2022 and commenting on the matter, JCRA
5G services. The move follows an announcement in January this chief executive Tim Ringsdore said: ‘We’re pleased to be restarting
year in which the JCRA confirmed it was in a position to restart its the process for licensing 5G spectrum for Jersey, and enabling
5G spectrum award process ‘with immediate effect’. According to future benefits for local mobile users. As the pandemic’s impact
the regulator, it has restarted the licensing process with a public recedes and the situation with network security requirements
consultation which will look to determine how interest in 5G has becomes clearer, we believe that now is the right time to pick up
been affected during the last two years, while the document also this matter again and look forward to re-engaging with interested
sets out the JCRA’s planned approach along with key influencing parties and islanders about 5G.’
factors that it intends to consider within a revised statement of

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