Page 69 - SAMENA Trends - May 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

BTRC Approves Mobile Operators to Install Device to Transmit More Data at

Lower Cost

Mobile operators can import and install data transmission amplifier
equipment for their leased fibre optic networks to transmit more
data at lower costs, the telecom regulator decided in its last
commission meeting. Each installation will require case-by-case
approval from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory
Commission (BTRC). This decision marks a significant victory for
mobile operators, who have long pushed for greater control over
their network infrastructure. Earlier in March 2021, BTRC banned
mobile operators from installing Dense Wavelength Division
Multiplexing (DWDM) equipment on their leased fibre lines, giving
Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN)
companies an advantage in handling data transmission. "DWDM
technology can increase the capacity of fibre optic cables by 100
to 1,000 times – or even more – depending on the equipment's
strength. If mobile operators can deploy DWDM on backbone fibre,
their transmission costs could drop by around 39%," said Faiz
Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser overseeing
the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and ICT. "By relying on
mobile operators, we reinstated the DWDM facility to them, allowing
them to provide quality services at lower prices," he added. The
2008 NTTN guidelines had separated fibre network operations from
mobile telecom services. Mobile operators were not allowed to lay
fibre cables unless no NTTN provider was available in a specific Railway, and BTCL, which already owned fibre networks, later
area. Over time, Fiber @ Home Ltd and Summit Communications obtained NTTN licences. However, they primarily leased their fibre
became the largest NTTN operators, building nationwide networks to NTTN companies or mobile operators. To increase competition
by themselves and getting government fibre leased. The network in the transmission sector, BTRC has now suggested that Railway
is used by mobile operators and internet service providers. and Power Grid create commercial subsidiaries and compete in
Government organisations like Power Grid Company, Bangladesh the market.

German Coalition Disagrees on AI Regulation, Digital Sovereignty

Leaked coalition documents reveal disagreement between the
center-right Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the center-left
Social Democratic Party (SPD) working groups on AI regulation
and digital sovereignty ambitions in negotiations over a new
German government platform. The leaked draft, with statements
marked as CDU/CSU, SPD or unity, favors a digital sovereignty
push and "innovation-friendly" implementation of AI regulation, but
splits on the ambitions of the twin agendas. "The AI Act should be
revised, or at least further developed in the course of technical and
legal specifications to reduce burdens on the economy," reads a
CDU/CSU amendment. The party also wants to create a basis to
combine data legislation in the future. The Commission is currently
reviewing whether to do a targeted AI Act revision and withdrew the
AI liability directive after taking a strong pro-innovation stance at the this purpose. The coalition is seeking more sovereign open-source
AI Summit in Paris. "We are committed to an AI Liability Directive at government systems, but where CDU/CSU want non-comittal
the European level," reads an SPD amendment. Both parties want "ambitious targets," SPD wants "to achieve an open source share of
regulation that accelerates the construction and design of data 50% by 2029." SPD also wants the EU Competitiveness Fund to also
centers, but CDU/CSU want to also amend existing regulations for be used to invest in a “digitally sovereign society and economy."

69 MAY 2025