Page 82 - SAMENA Trends - October 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

claiming that T-Mobile’s wholesale rate is 40% more expensive financial conditions for unilateral network deployments”, as well
than the price that it offers to its customers. According to as offering cost-based pricing for investments or services offered
TeleGeography, the EC considers T-Mobile, O2 and CETIN to be by their partners. Additionally, the companies proposed limiting
largely accountable for this following the signing of a network information exchange to purposes “absolutely necessary” for
sharing agreement by the mobile providers in 2011. This operating the shared network, with CETIN pledging to prevent
agreement was aimed at improving time and cost efficiencies for “spill-over” of information between T-Mobile and O2 Czech
the operators given that there are a number of regulatory hurdles Republic. If the proposals are accepted, they will be in force until
relating to mergers. However, the EU’s antitrust regulators are 28th October 2033. The EC has stated that it will consult with
concerned that circumventing the rules in this way may in fact third parties, including Vodafone, before it reaches a decision
violate them. Reuters notes that as part of the concessions, O2 on whether to accept the proposals. If it declines, the EC could
and CETIN have “offered to modernize the mobile network by fine each company as much as 10% of their global revenue. Last
using multi-standard Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment month, Vodafone hit out at the Czech Telecommunication Office
in certain radio frequency layers and also set and review the (CTU) for failing to address the network sharing arrangement.

Telecom Regulator Invites Firms to Submit Plan for Implementing 5G

The much-awaited 5G trial has moved a step closer to
happening with Nepal’s telecom regulator asking firms to submit
expressions of interest to prepare an action plan for implementing
the super fast new technology for mobile networks. The Nepal
Telecommunications Authority has given potential applicants
a November 10 deadline to send in their "master action plan
for implementation and promotion of 5G in vertical sectors".
The Nepal Telecommunications Authority has given potential
applicants a November 10 deadline to send in their "master
action plan for implementation and promotion of 5G in vertical
sectors". The authority said that 5G equally aimed to establish
industrial communications in vertical sectors such as automotive, as spectrum allotment has been held up. The working procedure
healthcare, manufacturing, energy, food and agriculture, city was released on July 19, but the trials had to be postponed due
management, government, public transportation, media and to setbacks resulting from recent political developments, officials
others to help digitize the economy and contribute towards global said. On February 1, the authority submitted a proposal to the
digital transformation. The expected date of commencement of National Frequency Determining Committee to allow 5G operation
the assignment is mid-January 2022, the authority said. Ambar in the country. According to the authority, 5G bands can be used
Sthapit, Director of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, said on the existing ones. As per the technology-neutral principal
they were in discussion with Nepal Telecom to begin a 5G test. policy, the operator can use 3G, 4G or 5G on the same band by
The government has allowed the state-owned telecom giant to obtaining permission from the authority. The authority will provide
conduct the trial. The Ministry of Communication, Information spectrum to telecom operators without cost to carry out 5G trials,
and Technology has given approval to the authority to determine and they cannot charge users during the test period either. Nepal is
the frequency for 5G trial. The authority, however, is yet to issue racing to become the first country in South Asia to offer super fast
approval for the frequency Sthapit said they would also study the connectivity, but political instability may prevent it from achieving
readiness of different sectors to adopt 5G technology. According the goal. Telecom operators in India have already started 5G tests
to the authority, the study will also find out how 5G technology will in different parts of the country with the government allowing
impact social, economic and technological growth and help digital trials in May this year. Digital Nepal Framework has identified "One
transformation by analyzing national and international scenarios. Nation, Eight Sectors and 80 Digital Initiatives" to enable Nepal to
The final study report needs to be submitted by the consultant make growth potential by leveraging disruptive technologies and
firm within six months from the date of the contract, as per the driving socioeconomic growth. The key sectors acknowledged
authority. The 5G technology is meant to deliver higher multi- by the framework are digital foundation, agriculture, health,
Gbps peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, more reliability, massive education, urban infrastructure, energy, tourism and finance. As
network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user per the authority's work procedure for the 5G trial, the test may
experience to more users, the authority said. The 5G wireless last two-three months or even a year, and no charge will be
mobile network was expected to be set up in Kathmandu and three applied during the period. As of mid-September, the country had
other major cities under a pilot project by the end of the last fiscal a total 33.45 million internet subscribers, according to a report of
year. The Nepal Telecommunications Authority had rolled out the authority. The 5G technology standard for cellular broadband
its Trial Working Procedure 2021 for 5G mobile internet service, networks offers faster connections, higher throughput and more
allowing telecom companies to conduct test runs of the super capacity than 4G, and will benefit areas of high traffic such as
fast 5G technology, but they have not been able to move ahead public places.
82 OCTOBER 2021