Page 59 - SAMENA Trends - September 2021
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WHOLESALE UPDATES  SAMENA TRENDS


                                              WHOLESALE NEWS





        Domestic Mobile Roaming Initiative Begins Operations


        The  ‘Local  Roaming’  (national  mobile   main cellcos Saudi Telecom Company (stc),   the  event of coverage  gaps on their  own
        inter-network  roaming)  initiative backed   Mobily and Zain. A press release on Zain’s   provider’s network. It is expected that the
        by  Saudi  Arabia’s  Communications  &   website confirms that the first phase of the   service will eventually cover around 21,000
        Information   Technology   Commission   domestic  roaming service was  launched   villages and settlements spread over 147
        (CITC)  has  been  launched  under  an   as planned in the Asir region, giving mobile   governorates  throughout  the  Kingdom,
        agreement  between  the  Kingdom’s  three   users access to any available network in   including desert zones.




        JCRA Issues Final Notice Related to Wholesale Broadband Price Review



        The  Jersey  Competition  Regulatory  Au-  the release of its final notice represented   by 2026. As previously reported by Comm-
        thority (JCRA) has issued the final notice   ‘the final stage’ of the price review. Under   sUpdate, in publishing its initial notice ear-
        confirming the prices that JT Jersey will be   the JCRA’s rulings JT Jersey will now be   lier this year the JCRA said it was confident
        able to charge for the wholesale bitstream   required to  lower the price  of wholesale   that the five-year plan for price caps would
        service offered over its full fiber network.   broadband  from  GBP31.25  (USD43)  to   encourage new retail competitors into the
        Having  previously  issued  a  final  decision   GBP27.94 per user per month from 1 Oc-  fixed  broadband  market,  while  encourag-
        and initial  notice  related to  the matter   tober 2021, with further reductions to cul-  ing  ‘other  licensed  operators  (‘OLOs)’  to
        back in June 2021, the regulator noted that   minate  in  the  charge  falling  to  GBP24.51   invest in their broadband services.




        CamTel Signs National  Roaming

        Deal With MTN


        State-owned fixed and mobile operator CamTel has announced
        the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with MTN
        Cameroon for the implementation of national roaming services.
        As such, the firm’s wireless subscribers will now have access to
        MTN’s network in areas not covered by CamTel’s own network,
        thereby maintaining service connectivity. Last month CamTel un-
        veiled its new ‘Blue’ brand name for its fixed, mobile and internet
        services, which will be made available nationwide.




        3 UK Ditches Free Roaming in the EU


        Operator  3  UK  followed  in  the  footsteps   switched to 3 UK or upgraded to new terms   from seeing the maximum amount needed
        of  EE  and  Vodafone  UK  by  reintroducing   from 1 October 2021 onwards. Customers   to provide a service to customers located
        roaming fees for users visiting  the   travelling in the Republic of Ireland, prepaid   abroad. It  deemed its  new pricing to be
        European  Union  (EU), a decision the   and post-paid customers signed up before   “as  simple  and  affordable  for  customers
        operator  explained  was  caused  by  too   October will not be impacted. The operator   as  possible”,  and  expressed  belief  the
        many uncertainties around  the cost of   explained  uncertainties  had  “made  it   move will enable it to continue investing in
        services used abroad. From 23 May 2022   commercially unviable for us to continue”   network and infrastructure improvements.
        a charge of £2 per  day when roaming   offering free roaming in the bloc. Factors   EE and Vodafone each plan to restore EU
        within the EU and £5 outside the bloc will   include  varied underlying  roaming costs,   roaming charges from January 2022.
        be applied, affecting customers who have   which the operator  asserted prevented  it
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