The European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA) - issued its response to BEREC’s proposals for a mid-term strategy and its contribution to BEREC’s draft report on the promotion of broadband. On the mid-term strategy ECTA suggest that BEREC should make more pro-active efforts to monitor and enforce NGA competition rules. On NGN core networks, ECTA asks BEREC to assess the challenges that IP interconnection will pose for existing termination and to assess broadband competition challenges arising from the trend towards bundling of content with telecoms services. Moreover, ECTA believes that “Consumer empowerment” should primarily be viewed as an “enabler” rather than a substitute for competition. NRAs need to make clearer distinctions between residential consumers and large business customers when applying consumer protection rules.

See BEREC’s proposals for a mid-term strategy
Source: The European Competitive Telecommunications Association

The Mexican government aims to promote high speed internet adoption in part by the sale of concessions which will allow the winning bidders to utilise state-owned fibre-optic lines and to build networks in those areas that currently do not have access to broadband services. According to Bloomberg, the initiative will see the government conduct auctions that will include contracts to use two fibre-optic lines from state-owned powerco Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE), while bids will also be taken on the use of fibre links running on along the federal highway network

See Press Release
Source: TeleGeography

The European Commission has published a guide for public authorities managing EU funds on the strengths and weaknesses of different models of investment in high speed internet infrastructures. It provides advice to managing authorities and project promoters on the issues that should be considered when planning a public sector investment in broadband infrastructure. The guide is based on a detailed review of several broadband investment projects (mostly co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund).

See Guide to broadband investment
Source: Europe's Information Society Newsroom

US mobile giant Verizon Wireless – the market’s largest wireless operator in terms of subscribers – has broken its silence on the controversial USD39 billion would-be merger between AT&T Mobility and T-Mobile USA, declaring that it sees no problem with the tie-up, as long as it does not involve increased regulation for the market as a whole. Speaking to Total Telecom at the Morgan Stanley TMT Conference in Barcelona, Francis Shammo, chief financial officer for Verizon, commented: ‘We have been very silent on this one. The reason we’ve been silent: we said there needs to be consolidation and as long as there is consolidation without regulation we don’t have an objection to it’.

See Press Release 
Source: Telegeography

The European Commission  launched two public consultations related to access for alternative operators to the fixed telephone and broadband networks of established operators. The consultations are part of Commission efforts to boost the Single Market for telecoms services by ensuring consistent and coherent approaches to regulating telephone and broadband networks in all Member States. The first consultation concerns non-discriminatory access for alternative operators to the infrastructure and services of dominant telecom operators. The second concerns the way national regulators calculate prices that operators have to pay for this wholesale access (cost-orientation remedies). The results will help the Commission to draft Recommendations for a consistent, investment-friendly application of non-discrimination and price control remedies. Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda said "We need regulatory consistency in all Member States to ensure a level playing field for telecoms across the whole EU, in which competition and investment can thrive. This will reassure markets that putting money into fibre networks is a safe and profitable investment."

See Press Release

Source: Europa

In May 2011, the CRTC issued Fact-finding exercise on over-the-top programming services in the Canadian broadcasting system Broadcasting and Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-344. In the notice, the Commission stated that since the publication of  Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2009-329 (the Regulatory Policy), it has been monitoring the development of broadcasting in new media, adding that “over-the-top” (OTT) programming accessed over the Internet is increasingly available to consumers at attractive price points.To better understand the trends and their implications and to gain an accurate understanding of the evolving role played by OTT services, the Commission sought submissions from stakeholders, together with any data supporting their findings and/or assertions. Comments were received from individual Canadians, public interest groups, representatives of the cultural sector, broadcasters and distributors, network operators, vertically integrated communications undertakings and Canadian and non-Canadian providers of OTT services. The complete record of this proceeding is available on the Commission’s website.

See Press Release
Source: CRTC

In May 2011, the CRTC issued Fact-finding exercise on over-the-top programming services in the Canadian broadcasting system Broadcasting and Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-344. In the notice, the Commission stated that since the publication of  Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2009-329 (the Regulatory Policy), it has been monitoring the development of broadcasting in new media, adding that “over-the-top” (OTT) programming accessed over the Internet is increasingly available to consumers at attractive price points.To better understand the trends and their implications and to gain an accurate understanding of the evolving role played by OTT services, the Commission sought submissions from stakeholders, together with any data supporting their findings and/or assertions. Comments were received from individual Canadians, public interest groups, representatives of the cultural sector, broadcasters and distributors, network operators, vertically integrated communications undertakings and Canadian and non-Canadian providers of OTT services. The complete record of this proceeding is available on the Commission’s website.

See Press Release
Source: CRTC

Charts, diagrams, charts, measurements, and more charts. This summation of nearly every document that passes through the FCC sounds only slightly more fun than staring at the Matrix all day, yet we still find ourselves a bit giddy when seeing highly anticipated phones take their turn getting the Federal nod of approval. And so it is with the Samsung i937, which is most likely the Focus S -- one of three tantalizing Windows Phone choices aimed at reaching stores "this fall." It's about what we'd expect, really: aside from sporting the usual AT&T frequencies, there's not much more that we can discern from the pages and pages of numbers and colorful pictures that depict phone radiation. Exciting stuff, we know, but Windows Phone 7.5 is at least one step closer to being in the clutches of our lonely mitts.

See Press Release 
Source: FCC 

Mobile network operators in Venezuela have been ordered to start blocking stolen and lost phones within three months following an instruction from the telecom regulator, Conatel. The networks will also be required to set up a shared database of blocked IMEI numbers so that stolen handsets cannot be reused on another network. It was reported by local media that some 110,000 mobile phones are reported as stolen in the country every month. It was also claimed that 20 murders can be associated with thefts of BlackBerry smartphones.

See Press Release 
Source: Cellular-news 

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today released a consultation paper on proposed new penalties to be specified in infringement notices issued under the Telecommunications Act 1997.

“The Gillard Government is committed to ensuring basic standards are maintained for consumers in the telecommunications industry,” Senator Conroy said.

“The infringement notice regime is an important new tool the Government has recently provided the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to enable it to better enforce compliance by telecommunications companies with regulatory requirements.

See Press Release

Source : DBCDE

Structural reform of the telecommunications industry moved closer today with the making of five key regulatory instruments by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy. The instruments provide the framework for Telstra’s structural separation and Telstra may now choose to proceed with lodging its structural separation undertaking with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Senator Conroy said significant improvements had been made to the instruments as a result of submissions received during the consultation period – which closed on 15 June – and he thanked interested parties for their contributions.

See Press Release

Source: DBCDE

The Department of Justice today filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to block AT&T Inc.’s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA Inc.   The department said that the proposed $39 billion transaction would substantially lessen competition for mobile wireless telecommunications services across the United States, resulting in higher prices, poorer quality services, fewer choices and fewer innovative products for the millions of American consumers who rely on mobile wireless services in their everyday lives.

See Press Release
Source: US Department of Justice

The European Commission has written to eight EU Member States (Austria, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Luxemburg) seeking information about their implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) Directive. The Commission has asked the Member States to reply within 10 weeks. The fact-finding letters are part of the Commission's efforts to ensure that the national media laws of all Member States correctly implement all aspects of the AVMS rules. The issues raised vary from one Member State to the other. The requests for information do not imply that the Directive has been incorrectly implemented by the Member States concerned but simply that, at this stage, the Commission has some outstanding questions concerning their implementation of the Directive.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

Primus Telecommunications has announced that its subsidiary company, Globility Communications, a Canadian local exchange carrier, has entered into an agreement to sell its 3.5 GHz fixed wireless spectrum licenses in 29 rural and urban markets across Canada for C$15 million. The license transfer is subject to Industry Canada approval. PTGi indirectly owns a 45.6% interest in Globility. Peter D. Aquino, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "PTGi is in full agreement with Globility's decision to monetize these non-core investments. This strongly complements PTGi's focus of investing in Canada in areas in which we can build sustainable long-term advantages for growth." The identity of the buyer was not disclosed.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-news

Google has taken reasonable steps to improve its privacy policies, the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said today, following an audit at the company's London office. The ICO's audit -- which took place in London in July -- was agreed as part of the terms of an undertaking that Google signed in November 2010 after the company reported that its Street View cars had collected Wi-fi payload data alongside the location mapping information that was the stated aim of the project. The audit found that Google has taken action in all of the agreed improvement areas. The ICO has now asked the company to go further to enhance privacy, including ensuring that users are given more information about the privacy aspects of Google products.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-news

The Ghanaian government has issued a warning to would-be start-up Globacom, a Nigeria-based telco with operations in Gambia, Senegal, Nigeria, Benin and Cote d’Ivoire, to launch commercial services in the country by 15 September, or face sanctions. Unconfirmed reports from online news journal Peacefmonline say the ultimatum was delivered by the Minister of Communications, Haruna Iddrisu, in his opening address to the 20th anniversary seminar of the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) in Accra last week. The minister reportedly delivered a paper titled ‘The telecom industry in perspective: History, overview and contemporary challenges of the media in Ghana’, in which he noted the government’s ire that Globacom, which was licensed about four years ago and planned to launch under the Glo Mobile banner, has yet to offer any full-blown service. Iddrisu is quoted as saying of the newcomer’s heel-dragging ‘it is about time we take the company on because they have the Ghanaian market space waiting for too long.’

See Press Release 
Source: Telegeography

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) issued its annual Communications Monitoring Report providing an overview of the Canadian télécommunications and broadcasting industries. The report reveals that by the end of 2010, the number of Canadian households subscribing to broadband Internet services rose by 9.2% to approximately 9 million, while the number of Canadians subscribing to wireless services grew by 8.5% to 25.8 million. CRTC Communications Monitoring Report http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/PolicyMonitoring/2011/cmr2011.pdf

See Press Release

Source : CRTC

 

 

The European Commission has sent requests for information to twenty EU Member States which have not yet notified measures to implement in full new EU telecoms rules into national law. The deadline set by the European Parliament and the EU's Council of Ministers for implementing the new rules was 25th May 2011. The requests for information take the form of letters of formal notice under EU infringement procedures. The new rules give businesses and consumers new rights regarding phones, mobile services and Internet access. These include the right for customers to switch telecoms operators in just one day without changing their phone number, the right to more clarity about the services customers are offered and better protection of personal data online. New oversight powers for the European Commission and regulatory powers for the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) will create more regulatory certainty and help telecoms operators to grow in a single, pan-European telecoms market (see IP/11/622 MEMO/11/319, MEMO/11/320 and MEMO/11/321). Swift and consistent implementation of these rules is a priority of the Digital Agenda for Europe (see IP/10/581, MEMO/10/199 and MEMO/10/200). However, while legislative processes are ongoing in all EU Member States and a majority of them have informed the Commission of some implementation measures, only seven Member States (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the UK) have notified the Commission that they have implemented the new rules in full. The twenty other Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain) are due to reply to the 'letters of formal notice' within two months. If they fail to reply or if it is not satisfied with the answer, the Commission can send the Member States concerned a formal request to implement the legislation (in the form of a 'reasoned opinion' under EU infringement procedures), and ultimately refer them to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Digital Agenda website

Neelie Kroes' website

Source: Europa

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is reportedly reconsidering a ruling it previously made under which fixed line incumbent Telstra was initially exempted from regulation in 248 exchanges, amid claims that some of the exchanges in question were not meeting exemption requirements. Having previously ruled that exemption would be allowed in those exchange areas where three or more local loop unbundled-based (LLU-based) providers were offering services to 14,000 or more customers, the regulator has now noted: ‘The ACCC is concerned that competitive pressures on Telstra in the exempt exchanges may not be living up to expectations at the time of the original exemption decision.

See Press Release
Source: Telegeography

South Africa's biggest wireless phone operator, cut off about a million users on Friday for failing to register their SIM cards under a new law in the country. Under the new Regulation of Interception of Communication Act, mobile phone SIM cards must have been registered by 2200 GMT on Thursday to avoid being cut off from the network. Vodacom, a unit of Britain's Vodafone (VOD.L), said fewer than a million subscribers were disconnected from its network but spokesman Richard Boorman said the impact on revenue would be minimal

See Press Release
Source: Reuters

With effect from 1st July 2011 to 30 June 2012 EU mobile operators will again be obliged to lower retail prices for roaming calls in line with EU rules first introduced in 2007 and amended in 2009. Consumers opting for the EU-regulated "Eurotariff" will pay no more than 35 cents per minute for calls made and 11 cents per minute for calls received while abroad in the EU. This is the last in the series of regulated price cuts under the current EU Roaming Regulation, which expires end June 2012. On 30 June 2010 the Commission published a report (see IP/10/851) indicating that, while such price cuts have temporarily reduced roaming prices during the regulated period, the current rules did not solve the underlying problem of lack of competition in roaming services and prices remained stubbornly close to the retail caps.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

The UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has referred to the Competition Commission (CC) the price control matters in appeals brought against the telecom's regulator, Ofcom by British Telecom, Everything Everywhere, Hutchison 3G and Vodafone. The reference is about the prices that Ofcom permits communication providers to charge for the termination of a wholesale mobile voice call. The charges, which Ofcom announced in March 2011, cover the period to the end of March 2015. When fixed and mobile operators offer their customers the ability to call UK mobile numbers, they pay mobile communication providers a wholesale charge to complete those calls. The rates that operators pay are called MCT charges or more commonly 'mobile termination rates' (MTRs).

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-news

India's mobile network operators may be allowed to lease their unused radio spectrum to other networks under proposals being considered by the government. However, as the 2G networks did not pay for their spectrum, which is allocated as licenses are awarded, then they should not be allowed to sell the radio spectrum. Many of the incumbent networks are struggling to cope with demand as customer bases exceed their spectrum capacity, while some newer networks sit on unused spectrum after they failed to sign up customers as fast as expected.

See Press Release
Source: Celluar-news

In response to a request from France Telecom to settle a dispute, through a decision issued on 4 November 2010, ARCEP ordered Numéricâble to comply with the operational terms set by France Telecom for accessing its civil engineering, when upgrading its network. Numéricâble had upgraded a portion of its coaxial networks by deploying optical fibre cable using civil engineering ducts owned by France Telecom, in accordance with the terms of transfer agreements that it had signed with France Telecom in 1999, 2001 and 2004. France Telecom considered that, because several operators have come to use its ducts to deploy their optical fibre networks since 2008, under the terms of its regulated civil engineering access offer, Numéricâble should be required to comply with the same operating modalities as all of the other operators.

See Press Release

Source: ARCEP

WIPO’s top copyright negotiating body will recommend to the September session of the General Assembly to resume a Diplomatic Conference on the Protection of Audiovisual Performances after agreement on the last outstanding issue relating to the transfer of rights. The convening of a diplomatic conference signals entry into the final phase of treaty negotiations, with the objective of concluding a treaty that would shore up the rights of performers in their audiovisual performances. Progress was also made in talks relating to the protection of broadcasting organizations with agreement on a work plan aimed at advancing negotiations on an international instrument. Efforts to update the rights of broadcasters, which are currently dealt with by the 1961 Rome Convention, have grown in momentum over the past years in light of the advent of radically new types of content distribution over the Internet and growing signal piracy problems around the world. These triggered international discussions to review and update existing international standards and to ensure an appropriate balance between the different interests of all stakeholders and those of the general public.

See Press Release
Source: WIPO

The head of Sierra Leone’s National Commission for Privatization, Abu Bangura, says the country is in discussions with Management Development International Co. (MDIC), a Beirut-based company, over the management of Sierratel. The telco is Sierra Leone’s monopoly fixed line operator, and one of 24 state-owned companies that the commission is seeking to sell. A spokesperson for MDIC confirmed that they are ‘holding discussions’ regarding Sierratel, but provided no further details.

See Press Release
Source: Telegeography

ICANN's Board of Directors has approved a plan to usher in one of the biggest changes ever to the Internet's Domain Name System. The Board vote was 13 approving, 1 opposed, and 2 abstaining. During a special meeting, the Board approved a plan to dramatically increase the number of Internet domain name endings -- called generic top-level domains (gTLDs) -- from the current 22, which includes such familiar domains as .com, .org and .net. "ICANN has opened the Internet's naming system to unleash the global human imagination. Today's decision respects the rights of groups to create new Top Level Domains in any language or script. We hope this allows the domain name system to better serve all of mankind," said Rod Beckstrom, President and Chief Executive Officer of ICANN. New gTLDs will change the way people find information on the Internet and how businesses plan and structure their online presence. Internet address names will be able to end with almost any word in any language, offering organizations around the world the opportunity to market their brand, products, community or cause in new and innovative ways. "Today's decision will usher in a new Internet age," said Peter Dengate Thrush, Chairman of ICANN's Board of Directors. "We have provided a platform for the next generation of creativity and inspiration." The decision to proceed with the gTLD program follows many years of discussion, debate and deliberation with the Internet community, business groups and governments. The Applicant Guidebook, a rulebook explaining how to apply for a new gTLD, went through seven significant revisions to incorporate more than 1,000 comments from the public. Strong efforts were made to address the concerns of all interested parties, and to ensure that the security, stability and resiliency of the Internet are not compromised. ICANN will soon begin a global campaign to tell the world about this dramatic change in Internet names and to raise awareness of the opportunities afforded by new gTLDs. Applications for new gTLDs will be accepted from 12 January 2012 to 12 April 2012.

See Press Release
Source: ICANN

European Commission has expressed a number of concerns on a proposal by the Belgian audiovisual regulators to regulate broadcasting services in Belgium. It has also raised some questions on the Belgian telecommunications regulator's proposal to regulate broadband access. In particular, the Commission is asking the Belgian regulators to take full account of market developments in both markets and to further substantiate and justify its reasoning with regard to the broadcasting market. The Commission's role is to oversee the details of remedies proposed by national telecoms regulators to address competition problems so as to ensure that customers and businesses are able to benefit from a fair and competitive single EU telecoms market, and that operators have the regulatory certainty they need to confidently operate EU-wide.

The plans would oblige Belgacom and cable operators to allow alternative operators to compete more effectively in the markets for both cable and the xDSL (where data is transmitted over telephone networks).

Under the proposed measure, Belgacom would have to give access for competitors to its broadband network (using telephone lines) and the cable operators, Telenet, Brutélé, Numéricable, Tecteo and AIESH would have to give access for competitors to their cable networks.

Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda said "I fully share the objective of the Belgian audiovisual and telecoms regulators to enhance competition for the benefit of the Belgian consumers, who are entitled to more choice and lower prices. However, regulators have to carefully examine market developments and avoid imposing disproportionate obligations on market operators, as this may create unnecessary burdens and ultimately stifle investment and innovation. The Commission has therefore asked the Belgian regulators to carefully examine the competitive conditions in the markets concerned and provide further evidence for their proposed measures".

 

See Press Release 
Source: European commission - Information Society

Mobile customers can swap networks, keep number. SIM registration period comes to an end. Ghana will next month allow mobile phone customers to switch network operators but keep their numbers, a move that will increase competition and quality of service, an industry regulator said on Friday. The West African country has some 17 million subscribers able to choose from five networks, including MTN Group Ltd MTN.J, Vodafone Group Plc (VOD.L) and Bharti Airtel Ltd (BRTI.NS). A sixth is due to come on line soon. But tariffs in the country are relatively high and customers frequently complain of poor services. "We believe mobile number portability will revolutionize the mobile sector in terms of competitiveness and quality service delivery," Mawuko Zormelo, a spokesman for the National Communication Authority, said on Friday.

See Press Release
Source: Reuters

Three out of four Europeans accept that revealing personal data is part of everyday life, but they are also worried about how companies – including search engines and social networks – use their information. These are the main conclusions of a new Eurobarometer survey on attitudes towards data protection and electronic identity, released by the European Commission today. The report reveals that 62% of people in the European Union give the minimum required information so as to protect their identity, while 75% want to be able to delete personal information online whenever they want to – the so-called right to be forgotten. There is also strong support for EU action: 90% want to have the same data protection rights across Europe.

See Press Release 
Source: European Commission

According to CRTC's Chairman,  Konrad von Finckenstein, in a digital world, regulatory change is necessary. He said: "We need new legislation and a new institutional framework. We cannot make the most of new opportunities when we are limited by the practices and the structures of the past".

Read the speech
Source: CRTC

Paris, 6 June 2011 – Governments around the world need to rapidly formulate and implement national multi-sectoral broadband plans – or risk being seriously disadvantaged in today’s increasingly high-speed digital environment, according to a new report released today by the Broadband Commission for Digital Development at its third meeting, held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

The report, entitled Broadband: A Platform for Progress, argues: “To optimize the benefits to society, broadband should be coordinated on a countrywide basis, promoting facilities-based competition and with policies encouraging service providers to offer access on fair market terms...efforts should be coordinated across all sectors of industry, administration and the economy. Developing isolated projects or piecemeal, duplicated networks is not only inefficient, it delays provision of infrastructure that is becoming as crucial in the modern world as roads or electricity supplies.”

The report also makes a strong case for broadband as a driver of economic growth and new jobs, citing country case studies and reports by leading consultancies.

See Press Release 
Source: ITU press release

A new draft regulation that will regulate the operations of telecoms service providers in the country and ensure that operators provide quality service and are held accountable if they fail, will be ratified in two weeks by the Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah , who disclosed this in a telephone chat with THISDAY stressed that the commission was not folding its arms but had been hampered by a lack of regulation that has made direct action to enforce service quality unlawful.

See Press Release 
Source: BalancingAct-Africa

By 25th May 2011, Europeans will enjoy new rights and services regarding phones, mobile and Internet. New EU telecoms rules to ensure a more competitive telecoms sector and better services for customers are due to be implemented in national law by this date. They include the right for customers to switch telecoms operators in just one day without changing their phone number, the right to more clarity about the services customers are offered and better protection of personal data online. New oversight powers for the European Commission and regulatory powers for the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) will create more regulatory certainty and help telecoms operators to grow in a single, pan-European telecoms market.

See Press Release
Source: European commission - Information Society

A fourth mobile concession in Egypt appears less likely following reports that the government may hold off on licensing a new player in the wake of the country’s political upheaval. According to Bloomberg, Egyptian communications minister Magued Osman noted: ‘There are a lot of changes in Egypt now and we are not sure whether launching a new licence at this moment is the right decision from the economic point of view.’ Such a decision, it is suggested, could prompt the country’s fixed line incumbent, Telecom Egypt (TE), to reconsider bidding for an increased holding in local cellco Vodafone Egypt, in which it already has a 45% stake.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-News

Spain's Ministry of Industry has announced that France Telecom and TeliaSonera have both been granted radio spectrum as part of the government's auction. France Telecom has committed to invest EUR433 million (US$600 million) in its network over the next three years in exchange for a block of 900Mhz spectrum. TeliaSonera's local subsidiary, Yoigo offered EUR300 million over the same time frame for a block of 1800Mhz spectrum. The company expects to be able to expand its network and reduce its reliance on a national roaming agreement with Telefonica. The two largest networks, Telefonica Movistar and Vodafone were barred from this round of the auction. The auction process will continue in the coming days, with more spectrum open to other operators, and will likely be completed by June 2, the ministry said.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-News

Vietnam's mobile phone networks, and handset retailers are complaining about a new law that restricts handset imports to just three seaports, in HCM City, Da Nang and Hai Phong. Currently, many of the higher value smartphones are shipped via air-freight and with minimal paperwork needed to clear customs, but the new regulations will also impose additional paperwork requirements. Officially, the restrictions are to cut down on phone smuggling, but local retailers point out that most smuggling is across the land borders and do not go through the government controlled ports. Doan Thanh Nhan, senior executive of Viettel Trade Import-Export Company told the VietNamNet news that the increased bureaucracy would particularly hit sales of Nokia and Apple smartphones. The new regulations are expected to transform a one week order-to-delivery timeframe into something closer to a month, not only delaying the sale of fashionable smartphones, but also causing the phone companies to have to increase their stock holdings to absorb potential delays.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-News

The government of Bangladesh has decided to ask the country’s telecoms regulator to reissue licences to two of the five fixed-wireless operators which had their operations closed down in March 2010 for alleged involvement in illegal VoIP business, the Financial Express reports. The communications ministry on Thursday issued a letter to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) requesting that PSTN operating licences be reissued to RanksTel and National TeleCom (NationalPhone), while sources quoted by the Bangladeshi paper said that the remaining three telcos – PeoplesTel, Dhaka Phone and WorldTel – would also get permission to resume their operations ‘in phases.’

See Press Release
Source: Total TeleGeography

The European Payments Council (EPC), representing the European banking industry in relation to payments, has released the Mobile Contactless SEPA Card Payments Interoperability Implementation Guidelines for public consultation. The EPC said that it is committed to advancing a sustainable mobile contactless payments ecosystem through the delivery of implementation guidelines that promote an interoperable and flexible architecture. The final version of these guidelines is expected to be published in October 2011.

See Press Release
Source: Total Telecom

Jean-Ludovic Silicani, the head of France’s national telecoms regulatory authority Arcep, has warned domestic operators that they will need to find an additional EUR1.5 billion (USD2.2 billion) per annum on top of their existing fixed and mobile CAPEX budgets over the next 15 years. In an interview with Les Echos, Silicani said that in 2010 French telcos invested EUR6 billion – a record high – which is helping the country to achieve a satisfactory level of competition in the market. The Arcep official also told the paper that mobile revenues from the network operators are expanding by between 1% and 2% a year, although tariffs are down 3%-4%.

See Press Release
Source: Total TeleGeography

The Guinean government has threatened to revoke the mobile network license held by South Africa's MTN if it does not make a payment of EUR15 million by the 2nd May to settle a long running dispute. MTN brought the local mobile network, Areeba in 2007 as part of the US$5.53 billion offer for Investcom, which had mobile phone operations in Africa and the Middle East. Since the transaction, the government has claimed that it is owed EUR15 million from the deal. A spokesman for MTN in South Africa told the Reuters news agency that he could not immediately comment on the issue.

See Press Release 
Source: Total Telecom

The New Zealand and Australian regulators have launched a formal investigation into the trans-Tasman roaming services provided by the two countries' mobile operators. Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce made the announcement this morning with his Australian counterpart Senator Stephen Conroy, at the Korea-Australia-New Zealand (KANZ) Broadband Summit.

"Many New Zealanders take their mobile phone, tablet or laptop with them when they travel to Australia. They need to have confidence that they are purchasing services in a competitive market. If this investigation finds they are not, then regulatory intervention will be considered," says Mr Joyce. The announcement follows the publication in May last year of a discussion paper that sought stakeholder views on whether a formal investigation was warranted.

See Press Release
Source: Celluar-news

Cofetel defends decision to penalise operator for imposing high termination rates on rivals. Mexico's antitrust regulator responded Wednesday to comments by America Movil SAB unit Telcel against a $1 billion fine that the competition watchdog imposed on the grounds that the mobile operator uses its market weight and high interconnection fees to displace competitors. Eduardo Perez Motta, president of the Federal Competition Commission, or CFC, said in an emailed statement that, by charging competitors high rates to terminate calls on its network, Telcel pushes their costs up and maintains its ability to charge high rates to its own customers. Telcel said Tuesday that it will appeal the ruling and fine, which it described as "arbitrary, biased, opportunistic and excessive."

See Press Release
Source: Total Telecom 

Pakistan’s mobile network operators have been given until 17 May 2011 to ensure that all of their respective subscribers’ details are registered and verified, after which non-verified connections must be blocked. According to Pakistan’s Daily Times, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has informed cellcos that all customers must register their SIM card details on their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs). The regulator has further impressed that all possible measures to ensure mobile customers comply with the deadline, and it is understood that operators have agreed to relaunch a marketing campaign to draw attention to the registration requirements. Introduced in October 2009, the PTA’s ‘SIM Information System 668’ service is likely to be integral in the final push to ensure mobile voice subscriber registrations are up to date. The service allows customers to send their CNIC details via SMS, in return receiving details of any SIMs registered against the identity card. For those still not registered, SIMs can be linked to CNIC’s at both Customer Service Centres nationwide.

See Press Release 
Source: Telegeography

Hutchison 3G UK (Three) has topped the complaints leagues as compiled by the UK's telecoms regulator, Ofcom. Three topped the chart with 0.15 complaints per 1000 customers from October 2010 to February 2011, while O2 was the best performer with 0.04 complaints per 1,000 customers. On average, Ofcom receives 450 telecoms complaints per day about a range of issues including mis-selling, billing errors, lack of service and customer service problems, which reflects the complexity of the telecoms market.

See Press Release 
Source: Cellular-news 

Qtel, Saudi Telecom only operators left in running after rivals abandoned auction over government's revenue sharing plan.Syria has postponed next week's auction of a third mobile license due to political ructions in the Arab country, a person familiar with matter said Thursday. "The license has been postponed because some elements on the supervisory committee were from the old government," the person told Zawya Dow Jones by telephone."Some people are no longer on the committee." No new date for the auction, that was slated for April 27, has been set, the person added. The postponement comes after Syria's President Bashar Assad, in moves aimed at containing popular anti-government sentiment, replaced his prime minister and cabinet, and promised to introduce new electoral and media laws.

See Press Release
Source: Total Telecom

The European Commission has invited stakeholders' views on the forthcoming revision of EU rules on the public financing of broadband infrastructure. The current guidelines, adopted in September 2009 provide a comprehensive framework for furthering the deployment of high and very-high speed broadband in Europe. However, fast evolving markets and rapid technological progress may require adaptations. This is why the Commission has set up a questionnaire on relevant issues, such as the development of very high speed broadband technologies or how best to design the access conditions on subsidized next generation networks. Comments should be submitted by 31 August 2011. In light of the results, the Commission will decide whether a revision of the guidelines is indicated and, in the affirmative, put forward a proposal for discussion in early 2012.

 

See Press Release 
Source: Europe's Information Society

As part of the EU-US Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial in Gödöllo (Hungary), Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano reiterated their shared commitment to deepening cooperation to address the increasing threats to global internet and digital networks. They agreed to strengthen trans-Atlantic cooperation in cyber-security by defining the issues to be tackled by the EU-US Working Group on Cyber-Security and Cyber-Crime. This Working Group, established at the EU-US Summit in November 2010 is tasked with developing collaborative approaches to a wide range of cyber-security and cyber-crime issues.

 

See Press Release 
Source: Europe's Information Society

New policy to allow industry consolidation provided the number of players in any single telecom circle does not fall below six. India will consider easing rules on mergers and acquisitions in the telecommunications sector as part of a new policy that could trigger a wave of consolidation in an industry hit by stiff competition.

The rules could be relaxed provided there are at least six players after any deal in a specific service area, Communications Minister Kapil Sibal said Monday. He was speaking to reporters on the broad contours of the new national telecom policy that is expected by the end of 2011. The new policy will replace the one formulated in 1999.

See Press Release 
Source: Total Telecom

Consumers and businesses in Latvia now enjoy better safeguards against unfair competition on telecoms markets following steps taken by Latvia to comply with EU rules on the independence of the national telecoms regulators, in response to an infringement case opened by the European Commission. In particular, Latvia has now ensured a clear separation between the bodies which make telecoms rules and those which provide telecoms services by transferring telecoms regulatory functions regarding radio frequencies and numbering from the Ministry of Transport to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development.. This separation, also known as structural separation, is essential to preserve the impartiality of national telecoms regulators, guaranteeing fair regulation for consumers and businesses and maintaining competition. The Commission has therefore closed its infringement case against Latvia, which it opened in 2008.

See Press Release 
Source: Europe's Information Society

The National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana says that around 85% of SIM cards in the country have now been registered with their respective network service provider. However, it went on the say that 2.5 million SIM cards were barred from making calls from the weekend and that those involved have until July to register them before their lines are completely disconnected.

See Press Release
Source: Telegeography

Geneva, 31 March 2011 – The 11th edition of ITU’s flagship ICT regulatory report Trends in Telecommunication Reform takes an in-depth look at one of the most significant social trends of the past ten years: the increasingly pervasive presence of ICTs in virtually every facet of modern life.

The report reveals an increasingly robust yet complex regulatory landscape which has emerged in response to the tremendous influence ICTs now have on the shape and growth of other economic sectors.

At the beginning of 2011, more than 80 per cent of markets worldwide have separate ICT regulatory agencies, making for a total of 158 ICT regulators worldwide – up from 106 just one decade ago.

Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2010-2011 confirms that ICT markets around the world are becoming more competitive in just about every respect, from international gateway services to wireless local loop and 3G. In 2010, more than 93 per cent of countries worldwide allowed competition in the provision of Internet services, and 90 per cent in the provision of mobile cellular services. A further 92 per cent have competitive 3G mobile broadband markets.

See Press Release 
Source: ITU

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)  launched, of its own initiative, a proceeding to review its decisions on billing practices that would have applied to the residential customers of Small Internet service providers (Small ISPs).  “The great concern expressed by Canadians over this issue is telling of how much the Internet has become an integral part of their lives,” said Konrad von Finckenstein, Q.C., Chairman of the CRTC.

 “Our approach is based on two fundamental principles: cas a general rule, ordinary consumers served by Small ISPs should not have to fund the bandwidth used by the heaviest residential Internet consumers, and it is in the best interest of consumers that Small ISPs, which offer competitive alternatives to the Large Distributors, should continue to do so.

See Press Release

Source: CRTC

The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) that monitors the electronic communications and postal sectors in Sweden conducted the Broadband Survey for 2010 showing that 44 per cent of all permanent households and businesses in Sweden have, or have the possibility of ordering, at least 100 Mbps broadband downstream. This means that the sub-objective of the Government’s Broadband Strategy – that 40 per cent of households and businesses should have access to at least 100 Mbps broadband by 2015 – has been achieved.

PTS will present no later than 31 May a complete follow-up of the sub-objective of the Government’s Broadband Strategy of 100 Mbps for 90 per cent of households and businesses by 2020, together with how access to IT infrastructure will continue to develop.

See Press Release 
Source: PTS

Neelie Kroes Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Digital Agenda European stated that Cloud Computing Strategy needs to aim high and stress that at the edge of a computing era of unprecedented flexibility and economies of scale. That is the promise of the cloud: the chance to turn IT provision into a real utility. And what a big promise that is, given the track record of computing in delivering better and better value. While the opportunities are clear, there is much to be done to ensure that we will take them up and make the best use of them. As with the exploitation of any strategic resource, cloud computing too requires a strategy. It is going to take partnership between industry and government, and European leadership, to ensure that Europe is not merely open or just friendly to cloud providers, but that there is a European effort to actively create the best environment for all parties.

See Press Release 
Source: Europe's Information Society

Bangladesh's mobile networks are protesting against proposals by the telecoms regulator to not only raise the radio spectrum fee they pay, but also to set the fee based less on the amount of spectrum they have than their respective customer bases. Different spectrum charges have been imposed on the operators in line with their subscriber bases, an official of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) told the Daily Star newspaper. "That's why per MHz spectrum within the same band is different."

Although operators with higher customer bases often pay more due to their needing more radio spectrum, it is almost unheard of for them to be charged a higher per-Mhz fee as well.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-news

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has introduced new rules which make switching mobile phone, internet and television providers easier for consumers, reports the Montreal Gazette. The new framework will force providers to make all necessary arrangements to have services transferred over to them from their competitors, the regulator announced. In the past, consumer rights lobbyists have attacked delays faced by customers in moving between providers, as well as unexpected charges incurred by end-users as a result of making the switch. Under the new rules, subscriber account transfers must be completed within two business days, except in the case of wireless services, for which a much shorter time window of two and a half hours has been set. Additionally, new safeguards will apply to prevent service providers from sharing confidential customer information with their internal sales and marketing groups during the process of transferring a customer account. 

See Press Release 
Source: TeleGeography

Finnish Minister of Communications Suvi Lindén and Russian Minister for Communications and Mass Media Igor Shchegolev have struck a policy agreement on roaming charges between the two countries. Business delegations involved in the negotiations discussed the implementation timetable and pricing schedule for roaming charges.

Mobile telecommunications operators have been ordered to agree on these details by the 1st May. The roaming charge specified by the EU has been set as the reference pricing level.

See Press Release 
Source: Cellular-news

Indian security agencies are not satisfied with a solution offered by Research In Motion (RIM.TO) for accessing data on its BlackBerry Messenger services, junior telecoms minister Sachin Pilot told parliament on Wednesday. RIM gave India access to its consumer services including the Messenger services in January, after Indian authorities raised security concerns, but said it could not allow monitoring of its enterprise email.

See Press Release
Source: Reuters

US politicians have proposed a new bill that would impose a 5-year ban on any increases in the taxes imposed on cell phone services by federal and state governments. According to the proposal, on average, wireless customers now pay 16.3% in taxes and fees, more than twice the average rate of 7.4% on other goods and services. The Wireless Tax Fairness Act would halt this trend by imposing a temporary, five-year freeze on new taxes that are imposed only on wireless services. They note that the bill does not take away any existing revenue from state or local governments; it simply caps the current taxes and fees. It is also the second attempt to pass such a bill after an attempt last year failed.

See this article

Source: Cellular News

Automatically renewable contracts that tie consumers with landlines into repeated minimum contract periods unless they opt-out are to be banned under proposals set out by Ofcom today. These contracts, also known as rollover contracts, are currently offered by BT, and several smaller providers, to both residential and business users of landline services in the UK.   

The contracts automatically roll forward to a new minimum contract period – with penalties for leaving – unless the consumer actively opts out of the renewal. Ofcom estimates that approximately 15 per cent of UK residential consumers are on rollover contracts. Ofcom is concerned that rollover contracts make it harder for customers to switch providers and consequently reduce the benefits of competitive choice.

 

See: Press Release 

Source: Ofcom

The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), the monopoly provider of wireless services in Costa Rica, will switch off its legacy TDMA network today, despite the platform still registering some 9,000 users. Customers have been given a choice of switching to ICE’s 2G or 3G networks, on either a pre-paid or post-paid basis.

See Press Release
Source: TeleGeography

European mobile phone subscribers will have to be offered the choice of 12-month contracts in addition to the increasingly usual 18 and 24 month contracts, under laws passed by the European Union. The legislation is due to come into effect in May this year, subject to ratification by each of the European Union's nation states.

A spokesperson for the UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom confirmed that "The European Telecoms Package has to be transposed into UK law by the end of May. Under it, contract lengths must not exceed 24 months and consumers should have the option to subscribe to a 12 month contract."

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-News

MTN has had its application for a 3G license in Swaziland rejected by the local telecoms network, the Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC), which also managed the regulatory regime in the country. The phone company come regulator did not say why the license was rejected.

MTN's CEO, Ambrose Dlamini had said last year that the company was at an advanced stage in negotiations for a 3G license and had hoped to be awarded the license by the end of last year. MTN has been lobbying for an independent regulator for some years, saying that the combination of phone company and regulator causes obvious conflicts of interest. MTN dropped its objection to SPTC building a fixed wireless network, in exchange for the government pressing ahead with splitting the phone company from its regulatory role.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-News

India's Department of Telecom has reversed an earlier ban on the private mobile network operators offering 3G video calling services - but said that the ban will be reintroduced later this year if changes are not made. The operators will now be required to install a "suitable monitoring mechanism" by the end of July that would allow the security services to monitor video calls.

The operators were barred from offering 3G video calls last month after the security services complained that live monitoring of video calls has not been installed. For their part, the operators noted that it was incredibly difficult to offer live monitoring, as opposed to supplying recordings of the call once it had finished.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-News

South Africa will complete the process of migrating from analogue to digital television by December 2013, Communications Minister Radhakrishna Padayachie announced on Friday. The analogue switch off date was originally set for November 2011 but has since been changed to December 2013 by Cabinet.

The minister also revealed South Africa would adopt the DVB-T2 standard for the process of digital migration. He said South Africa's December 2013 deadline for switching off the analogue signal was in keeping with a global decision to switch off the signal by 2015.

See Press Release
Source: AllAfrica

Responding to pressure from Indonesia's government, Research In Motion has decided to filter pornographic internet content for BlackBerry users in that country. RIM “is fully committed to working with Indonesia's carriers to put in place a prompt, compliant filtering solution for BlackBerry subscribers in Indonesia as soon as possible,” the Waterloo, Ontario-based company said in a Jan. 10 statement.

This marks the first time that RIM has applied internet filtering in any country, and the move came after Indonesian Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring threatened to shut down the BlackBerry browsing service. It is estimated that RIM has approximately two million users in Indonesia, and analysts report that the market represents one of the fastest growing for the BlackBerry.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular News

National regulator Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) says new telecoms operators wishing to set up shop in the country will not be able to offer 3G mobile services, as it lacks spectrum bandwidth as all available frequencies are currently occupied by Nepal Telecom (Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited, or NT) and Spice Nepal Private Ltd (Ncell). Speaking at the latest meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), NTA chairman Bhesraj Kandel confirmed that the only way for operators to get 3G spectrum would be if the existing spectrum was reallocated.

See Press Release
Source: Telegeography

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today announced that new Rules of Practice and Procedure will go into effect on April 1, 2011. The rules are intended to guide public participation in the CRTC’s broadcasting and telecommunications proceedings. The CRTC holds a variety of public proceedings to gather evidence and hear the views of the communications industry, interested parties and the general public. More than 1,000 documents related to ongoing proceedings are filed with the CRTC during a typical week, a number that can rise to over 10,000 in the case of a highly publicized matter. Submissions may include applications, interventions, procedural requests and responses to questions. Starting in April 2011, applications must be submitted to the CRTC electronically using the applicable forms on its website. In addition, certain broadcasting applications, such as a request to modify a television or radio licence, will be published separately on the CRTC’s website for comments instead of by way of a notice of consultation. This will enable the CRTC to process these applications more quickly, and the procedure will mirror the current practice for similar telecommunications applications.

See Fact sheet - General questions and answers about the new converged Rules of Procedure

See Press Release
Source : CRTC

Indian 3G network operators, Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices are appealing against an order from the Department of Telecoms (DoT) to suspend their video calling services. The two networks argue that the order - related to state security - is discriminatory as the two state-owned networks, MTNL and BSNL are still permitted to provide video calls. The DoT order requires that the private operators suspend the service until they are able to provide live monitoring of the video calls. Bharti Airtel is also reported to have received the same order blocking it from launching video services in the future.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-news

The President of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade has rescinded a government Decree passed in May this year that proposed a higher tax levy on incoming international calls to the country. The decision to veto plans to raise call taxes should hopefully bring the curtain down on a seven-month dispute between the national regulator, Agence de Regulation des Telecoms et Postes (ARTP), and France Telecom-controlled national operator Sonatel. Local newspaper Le Soleil reports the regulatory agency’s director general, Ndongo Diaw, as saying that the tax increases – which were due to enter into effect from August – would have raised CFA5 billion (USD10.4 million) a month for the authorities. However, unions objected to an August decision to monitor incoming calls passed through the PTO, claiming it would hurt Sonatel’s business and put jobs at risk. In September the monitoring, designed to allow the state to calculate the nature of the taxes it could collect, was temporarily suspended. Wade has now withdrawn the decree on monitoring incoming international calls altogether.

See Press Release
Source: Telegeography

The Federal Communications Commission recently took action to extend the deadline for broadcasters, cable companies, satellite radio and television operators, and wireline video service providers to implement the new federal common messaging protocol adopted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the transmission of next generation emergency alerts and warnings to the public.

See Press Release
Source: FCC Federal Communications Commission

Jamaica's government has approved plans to mandate SIM card registration by the country's three mobile network operators. The Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Daryl Vaz, who made the announcement at a press conference said the legislation is regarded by the local security forces as a tool to assist law enforcement in investigating serious crimes.

"Security intelligence supports the fact that criminal networks exploit the anonymity accorded by pre-paid mobile telephones to execute their nefarious dealings," he said. The Cabinet has approved drafting instructions to prepare for amendments to the Telecommunications Act, 2000 to require SIM card registration.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-news

On 8 September 2010 the Polish Sejm passed some amendments to the Polish Telecommunications Act to  address significant market position and focus on the conditions of their telecommunications activity. The changes aim to improve the competition on the market as well as aid the implementation of new telecommunications infrastructure. Under the new act, telecoms with a significant market position will be authorised to propose the conditions of their telecommunications activity to the President of the Office of Electronic Communication ("UKE") and negotiate these conditions with UKE. During the procedure, UKE will consider whether the proposition will have a positive impact on the competition on the market and whether it improves the quality of services for end users.

See Article
Source: Mondaq IT & Telecoms

Ofcom has  published an invitation to comment on the Public Interest Test it will conduct in relation to News Corporation’s intention to acquire the shares in British Sky Broadcasting Plc it does not already own.

This document outlines the considerations Ofcom will make as part of its initial investigation and now invites comments from interested parties.

In considering the public interest, Ofcom will have particular regard to the significance attached by Parliament to sufficient media plurality. And in undertaking an initial investigation of this Public Interest Test Ofcom will specifically consider:

• Content types
• Audiences
• Media platforms
• Control of media enterprises
• Future developments in the media landscape

Ofcom is also seeking views about the potential future impact of the proposed acquisition on the sufficient plurality of persons with control of the media enterprise and on potential remedies or mitigations to any public interest concerns identified by interested parties.

See Press release

Source: OFCOM

India's telecoms regulator, TRAI has announced a consultation on requiring the network operators to block stolen mobile phones by registering their IMEI serial numbers. In 2004, TRAI had initiated a preliminary consultation process on the issue. However, at that time, a number of service providers were not having the capability to track/block the handset in their network. Therefore, the matter was not proceeded further, until now. The main change is that in the previous attempt, not all the networks were logging the IMEI serial numbers when accepting calls on their networks, and a large number of, mainly Chinese, handsets actually lacked a serial number. A change was ordered at the end of 2008 requiring that the networks retain IMEI logs, and that handsets without a valid serial number be blocked from the networks.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-news

Slovakia's Telecommunications Office (TU SR) opened a tender for 10GHz band wireless frequencies intended for the provision of regional local broadband access services via fixed wireless access (FWA) technology. Licences are up for grabs in eight localities: Komarno, Levice, Liptovsky Mikulss, Martin, Nitra, Nove Zamky, Povazska Bystrica and Turcianske Teplice. The only evaluation criterion is the amount offered in a one-off payment for the allocation of a spectrum block. The minimum price for a block is set at EUR665 (USD925). Candidates must submit their tender documents to the regulator by 22 November 2010.

See Press Release
Source Telegeography

The Federal Communications Commission announced the release of a white paper entitled, “Mobile Broadband: The Benefits of Additional Spectrum.” This detailed technical and economic forecast of mobile broadband market trends details the looming spectrum crunch in a concrete, data-driven fashion. The National Broadband Plan recognized the exponential growth of mobile data usage and recommended that the Commission make available 500 megahertz (MHz) of new spectrum for wireless broadband within ten years, including 300 MHz for mobile flexible use within five years. In addition, the President directed in a June 28, 2010, Executive Memorandum that 500 MHz of new spectrum be made available for mobile and fixed broadband use.

See Press Release http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2010/db1021/DOC-302330A1.pdf
Source FCC Federal Communications Commission http://www.fcc.gov

Long-delayed legislation designed to enhance competition, force Australian fixed line incumbent Telstra to structurally separate, increase the powers of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), and provide a framework for the country’s upcoming National Broadband Network (NBN) has been reintroduced to parliament, Reuters is reporting. The legislative proposals have been raised in the lower house by Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese, with the politician claiming that the regulations would give Telstra more legislative certainty as the telco looks toward the split of its wholesale and retail operations. ‘This bill is an important step on the road to an improved telecommunications industry structure, with better competitive outcomes and stronger safeguards for consumers,’ Mr. Albanese told parliament. Telstra for its part has said that it supports the legislation although it has called for some amendments, and the telco’s CEO David Thodey said of the matter: ‘We believe the interests of Telstra shareholders would be best served by the bill being passed this year so that a definitive agreement on our involvement in the NBN can be reached quickly.’

See Press Release
Source: Telegeography

India's Home Ministry has issued instructions to the mobile network operators instructing them to store all text messages for six months. The networks typically store text messages for just a few days, and the move is expected to sharply increase costs as the networks invest in data centres to archive the old messages. Indians send between 130 and 150 billion SMSes, or text messages, a month. Currently, the operators are only required to archive text messages for specific phone numbers under instruction from the security agencies. The operators have warned that forcing them to archive all text messages from all senders will raise costs, and these will have to be passed onto the consumer. There are also concerns that the move could be expanded to include voice calls.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular news

The National Communication Authority (NCA) has expressed worry about the inadequate registration centres by telecom operators to register SIM cards in the rural areas. Many rural people in the Upper West and Northern Regions, who possessed mobile phones, had the trouble of traveling long distances either to the district capitals or regional capitals at a cost to have their phones registered. Some members in the rural communities were still not also aware of the directive by the NCA to register their phones before June 30, 2011.

See Press Release
Source: Balancing Act

Cambodian internet service providers who have been granted WiMAX licenses are still waiting for the regulator to resolve a spectrum dispute over a year after their licenses were granted. Although the ISPs were granted licenses in the 2.5GHz to 2.7 GHz frequency range, the same spectrum was also licensed to Star Digital TV. Sok Channda, CEO of Cambodia Data Communications, parent company to both Mekong Net and Angkor Net ISP, told the Phnom Penh Post it was still not cleared to operate WiMAX networks, despite meeting with the Ministry on several occasions. She put the cost of the delays at around US$1 million so far.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-news

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has expressed concern over Somaliland authorities’ decision to temporarily suspend, on the evening of 5 October 2010, the operations of the London-based private Universal TV network in Somaliland.
A letter issued by Somaliland Minister of Information and Public Orientation, Abdullahi Osman Jama, accused Universal TV of having “failed to execute its media duties impartially”. The Minister, who asked the Somaliland law enforcement organs and the Interior Ministry to implement the suspension, added that Universal TV bypassed “international standards of journalism” and that its administration had refused to answer telephone calls from the Ministry, an allegation denied by Ahmed Abubakar, Director General of Universal TV who said that they did not receive any complaint or communication from the authorities.

See Press Release
Source: BalancingAct-Africa

The federal government’s use of handheld communications devices and its practices for disposing of unneeded paper documents and surplus computers could expose the personal information of Canadians to unauthorized disclosure, Privacy Commissioner of Canada Jennifer Stoddart has warned.The findings, stemming from two separate privacy audits conducted by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC), were highlighted in the organization’s 2009-2010 annual report on the Privacy Act, tabled in Parliament today. The Act applies to federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations.

See press release
Source: OPCC Canada

The European Commission has today decided to request France and Spain to abolish specific charges on the turnover of telecoms operators introduced when the Member States concerned decided to end paid advertising on public TV channels. In both cases, the Commission considers these "telecoms taxes" to be incompatible with EU telecoms rules, which require specific charges on telecoms operators to be specifically and directly related to covering the costs of regulating the telecoms sector. The requests take the form of "reasoned opinions" under EU infringement procedures. France and Spain now have two months to inform the Commission of measures taken to comply with EU telecoms rules. If they fail to do so, the Commission may refer them to the EU Court of Justice.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

Today, ARTICLE 19 releases its analysis of the draft Law on Access to Public Information which has been created by a group of Kazakhstani MPs and legal experts. We call on the Kazakhstani Parliament to incorporate ARTICLE 19’s recommendations and adopt the law.
Kazakhstan is one of the few member states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) without an access to information law. As a result, public governance remains non-transparent. The failure to adopt access to information legislation goes against international law which recognises this right and obliges states to ensure that public authorities respond to information requests. Moreover, the lack of such legislation is urgently felt in view of Kazakhstan’s leadership in Central Asia and its 2010 chairmanship of the OSCE.

See Press Release
Source: Information Policy

The maker of the BlackBerry smartphone has granted India's government manual access to its Messenger service and has promised automated access by January 1, enabling authorities to track such messages in real time, the country's top interior ministry official said on Friday. India, one of the world's fastest growing mobile telephone markets, also wants access to encrypted email traffic sent via Research In Motion's enterprise servers. The BlackBerry maker says its system is designed so that only the sponsoring business or organization has the technical capability to grant such access. India, among several countries to express concerns BlackBerry services could be used to stir political or social instability, has threatened RIM with a ban if denied access to the data.

See Press Release
Source: Reuters

Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) is planning to lower interconnection fees among telecom operators. Acting director general said that interconnection charges were acting as a bottleneck to the sector’s growth. The regulator has commissioned a study and hopes to adjust wholesale rates within four months. Mr Gatarayiha alos mentioned that plans to licence a fourth mobile operator have been suspended until a formal policy decision is taken.

See article
Source: TeleGeography

India's delayed launch on Mobile Number Portability (MNP) should finally start across the entire country at the start of November, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Chairman, Dr J. S. Sarma, has announced. "I don't anticipate any further delay in implementing the facility," Dr Sarma told The Hindu Business Line on the sidelines of an open house convened by TRAI on inter-operability of DTH Set Top Boxes (STBs). The deployment of the MNP service was due to be launched in phases across the country, but repeated delays resulted in the regulator changing the plan in favour of a single nationwide launch at once. The DoT guidelines created geographical division of the country into two Number Portability Zones, each consisting of 11 licensed service areas. Subsequently, one operator in each zone was selected. Syniverse Technologies was granted licence for operating in Northern and Western India and MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions was granted licence for Eastern and Southern India.

See Press Release
Source: cellular-news

Ireland's telecoms regulator, ComReg has published a consultation on a proposed award of rights of use in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz spectrum bands. The Consultation follows a government announcement in July that analogue terrestrial television will be switched-off in the State in Quarter 4 of 2012 (ASO). Since then, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland published a statement regarding the conclusion of its commercial digital terrestrial television (DTT) multiplex licensing process. In particular, it was noted by the Authority that it will not be feasible to introduce commercial DTT in advance of the analogue switch-off, meaning there will not be a requirement for the use of the 800 MHz band by DTT broadcasting in advance of ASO.

See Press Release
Source: cellular-news

Delay in 3G licensing process hits investor confidence in Thailand. Thailand's telecoms regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission, Friday filed an appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court, seeking to overturn an injunction against its planned auction of third-generation mobile licenses. The move comes after the Central Administrative Court late Thursday issued an injunction against the auction, scheduled to kick off on Monday, after state-owned CAT Telecom alleged the NTC has no authority to grant the 2.1 gigahertz frequency spectrum to successful bidders. It also argued that parts of the regulations related to the licensing will create "unfair" competition and cause state agencies to lose revenue. The spectrum is to facilitate the launch of 3G technology in the country. State-owned operators have challenged the legitimacy of the NTC to oversee industry issues related to the technology pending the commissioning of a new regulator.

See Press Release
Source: Total telecom

Zimbabwe's telecoms regulator, Potraz has announced a new deadline for the registration of prepay SIM cards after the last deadline was suspended indefinitely. Mobile subscribers now have until the end of next February to register their details with the networks or face having their accounts switched off. However, although the formal deadline in the 28th February 2011, the operators will be required to start implementing restrictions from the 1st January to encourage registration. The restrictions will include blocking SMS and voice calls during peak hours, although other measures were not ruled out. Only 3.8 million subscribers have currently registered their SIM cards, out of about 6.5 million mobile phone users in the country.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular News

India’s Supreme Court issued a notice to the telecommunication minister asking him to respond to claims that the issuing mobile telephony concessions in 2008 cost the government some INR700 billion (USD15.1 billion). The minister argued that he acted in the public interest, helping to bring down the cost of mobile services. The Supreme Court is hearing a public interest litigation which has called for the judicial body to monitor an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) related to the award of 2G spectrum licences in 2008.

See article
Source: TeleGeography

The government of Russia voted against amendments to the Law on Communications on regulation of mobile tariffs of biggest cellcos MegaFon, MTS and Vimpelcom. It discussed a draft amendment which proposed designating these entreprises as having significant market power.

See article
Source: TeleGeography

The Greek telecoms regulator, the Hellenic National Regulator Agency (EETT) has announced that expiring GSM licenses might not be automatically renewed for their current holders but will be put up for open auction. The regulator added that the awarding process will not offer preferential treatment to the incumbents. The 15-year licenses expire in 2012, and leaves open the theoretical possibility that either Vodafone or Wind could lose their licenses to operate in the country. While Vodafone would almost certainly be able to outbid any newcomer, the precarious financial state at Wind makes it vulnerable.

See Press Release 
Source: Cellular News

Israel’s Ministry of Justice has approved a proposal from the Ministry of Communications to limit charges levied against customers that seek to terminate their mobile voice subscriptions early. The proposal also stipulates that mobile operators may not request immediate repayment of any outstanding amounts. Reaction to the development from the country’s cellcos has been mixed but the Ministry of Communications said it was introducing the proposal following numerous complaints from subscribers.The new law will come into effect in January 2011.

See article
Source: Telegeography

The following mobile network operators (MNOs) have published performance pledges for their mobile broadband services. Consumers may access the websites of these MNOs to obtain the information via the following links: CSL Limited Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) Limited Hutchison Telephone Company Limited SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited The performance pledges do not represent service “guarantees” of the MNOs. They are intended to give consumers an indication of the normal service quality level of the MNOs concerned. Actual performance statistics of the MNOs against the pledges will be published by the MNOs at their respective websites within one month after the end of each quarter. The first batch of performance statistics shall be available before January 2011.

See Press Release 
Source: OFTA - Hong Kong Office of the Telecommunications Authority

The Pre-Qualification Exercise (PQE) for Singapore's Next Generation Interactive Multimedia Applications and Services (NIMS) Project closed on 27 August 2010, at 4pm. The list of companies successfully pre-qualified is available. Project NIMS is a joint initiative by IDA and MDA to develop a strategy to build up capabilities, infrastructure and the industry ecosystem in the area of interactive multimedia application and services. IDA and MDA will be conducting an Industry Dialogue (ID) to seek views from the industry on the following: Share IDA's and MDA's view on the current interactive multimedia services ecosystem and seek industry views on whether and/or how the ecosystem will evolve in the mid term to achieve the NIMS vision; Understand the potential barriers of entry for successful commercial deployment of NIMS in Singapore; Develop an approach to catalyse the industry in the development of NIMS; and, Establish the need for a NIMS infrastructure provider to provide wholesale access for other retail services providers to deliver NIMS.

See website page
Source : IDA

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today directed the large telephone companies to rebate $310.8 million to their urban home telephone customers. At the same time, the CRTC has approved a plan for the deployment of broadband Internet service to 287 rural and remote communities.

See Press Release
Source: CRTC

As previewed in issue 514, Cape Verde’s regulator Agência Nacional das Comunicações (ANAC) is tendering the right to use frequency for three 3G operationsand for one 2G operation: all licences are national. The likely outcome will be that the two existing mobile operators will get a 3G licence and one new entrant (possibly Digicel) will enter the market.

The three 3G licences will use 2x15MHz of paired spectrum in the bands 1920-1980MHz / 2110-2170 MHz and 5 MHz of unpaired spectrum in the 1900-1920 MHz band, for each one of the rights of frequency, and the allocation of one nationwide right of frequency use in the range reserved for GSM.

See Press Release
Source: Balancing Act

The Commerce Commission has today released its draft report into whether the services that Telecom provides to other telecommunications companies to be resold should remain subject to the Telecommunications Act 2001. Retail services such as residential lines and broadband services are offered by Telecom to wholesale customers to resell at a discount to the retail price – these are known as resale services, and are currently provided commercially by Telecom’s wholesale division. Resale services are subject to the Act so that wholesale customers, in the event that they are unable to agree commercial terms with Telecom, have the ability to ask the Commission to determine the terms and conditions (including price) for supply of these services by Telecom. The Commission’s preliminary view is that wholesale broadband services, business data services and bundled resale services should no longer be subject to the Act given their low take up and the availability of alternative services.

See Press Release 
Source: New Zealand Commerce Commission

Thailand’s Administrative Court has rejected a lawsuit filed by an employee of state-run telco TOT – the country’s sole 2100MHz UMTS licence holder – which challenged the authority of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to issue 3G licences to privately-owned operators in a planned auction scheduled to start in late September, the Bangkok Post writes. The suit, filed by Pornchai Meemark, formerly a union leader for TOT, argued that under previously issued laws and regulations, the award of new 3G licences is not allowed until a long-delayed plan to form a combined communications/media regulator – the National Broadcasting & Telecommunications Commission – is implemented.

See Press Release
Source: TeleGeopgraphy

­In India, talks to consider restricting BlackBerry services have ended without a decision. Thursday's meeting between officials of the Interior Ministry, security agencies and the state-run telecom provider was held after the government expressed concerns about not being able to monitor data sent via e-mail or messaging on the popular BlackBerry mobile device.

Officials say Thursday's meeting was inconclusive. India wants the Canadian company that makes the phone, Research in Motion, to give it access to encrypted data transmitted via the handset. The government is worried that BlackBerry services can be used by terrorist organizations because security agencies cannot intercept the communication.

See Press Release

Source: Cellular News

Submissions made as part of Industry Canada’s public consultation on foreign investment restrictions in the telecommunications sector are now online at www.ic.gc.ca /telecominvestment. The consultations were announced by the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, on June 11, and ran until July 30, 2010. The consultation paper is also posted on the site. It outlines the current restrictions, describes how Canada compares with other countries and presents the following three options for consideration: Increase the limit for direct foreign investment in broadcasting and telecommunications common carriers to 49 percent; Lift restrictions on telecommunications common carriers with a 10-percent market share or less, by revenue; or Remove telecommunications restrictions completely.

See press release
See comments
Source: Government of Canada

La República Dominicana aprobó hoy el modelo norteamericano ATSC (Advanced Television Sytem Committee) como estándar de Televisión Digital Terrestre para su aplicación a partir de la fecha en el territorio nacional.

La medida fue adoptada mediante el Decreto No. 407-10 emitido por el Presidente Leonel Fernández, informó el presidente del Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones (Indotel),doctor José Rafael Vargas, durante una rueda de prensa en el Palacio Nacional. “En el mes de septiembre del 2015 se produce el apagón analógico de la televisión dominicana y a partir de este momento con el formato que vamos a anunciar, comenzamos el desarrollo de la fase más trascendente, más importante que ha tenido la televisión de la República Dominicana desde su origen en la década de los años 50”, expresó el funcionario.

Vargas señaló que algunos concesionarios ya han adquirido sus transmisores y equipos digitales, mientras que el Indotel está propiciando que vía la Dirección General de Aduanas “se den todas las facilidades a todos los concesionarios de radio y televisión para que puedan traer sus equipos”.

See Press Release

Source: Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones INDOTEL

­The USA's telecoms regulator, the FCC has proposed removing regulatory barriers to the use of microwave spectrum for wireless backhaul. The proposal was initially recommended in the government's National Broadband Plan. Microwave communications has become, in a growing number of situations, a viable option for backhaul of mobile broadband traffic.

Backhaul costs currently constitute a significant portion of a mobile wireless operator's network operating expense, and the demand for backhaul capacity is increasing. As broadband providers accelerate deployment of next-generation networks, they will require backhaul that can carry what is expected to be significant growth in mobile data traffic.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular News

Saudi Arabia's telecommunications regulator on Tuesday said it would allow BlackBerry services to continue in the kingdom, citing "positive developments" with the device's Canadian manufacturer.

The Communications and Information Technology Commission's announcement staves off, at least for now, a potential ban of Research in Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry Messenger service in the country — a step which officials had said was possible because of national security concerns.

It was not immediately clear whether the decision was just a temporary reprieve, or whether the threat to ban the smart phones was off the table. The Saudi announcement of the possible ban — which came shortly after officials in the United Arab Emirates announced the device would be banned starting in October — was read by many analysts as a reflection of the conservative governments' concerns over an inability to access user data.

See Press Release

Source: Cellular-News

 Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Celluler Mobile Operators (CMOs) of Pakistan have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) on Infrastructure Sharing. MoUs will be valid for an initial term of three (3) years and may be extended with mutual consent of the parties, upon expiration of the initial term. The MoUs signed by all 5 mobile operators aimed at revving up the current pace of Infrastructure Sharing amongst Cellular Mobile and WLL operators in the country and to increase the overall industry Tenancy Ratio to a reasonable mark.

See Press Release

Source: PTA

­Pakistan is expected to auction off its 3G licenses in the next few months, according to comments by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority's (PTA) Chairman, Dr Muhammad Yaseen. Refuting suggestions that the operators themselves were disinterested in 3G services, he noted at a press conference that several operators are already supporting the regulator in getting the licenses sold.

Telenor Pakistan has been previously reported to have already started upgrading its network to support 3G services. The award of the country's 3G licenses have been delayed several times, despite prior statements by the regulator that it has spectrum earmarked, and all the ground work is completed.

See Press Release

Source: Cellular News

The Digital Economy Act 2010 requires Ofcom to produce a report for the Government every three years giving a clear picture of the state of the UK’s landline, broadband, mobile and broadcast networks and services. Today’s consultation sets out the information that Ofcom plans to gather from stakeholders, whilst considering the need to minimise the administrative burden on them.

The consultation can be found here

Source: Ofcom

The Digital Economy Act 2010 requires Ofcom to produce a report for the Government every three years giving a clear picture of the state of the UK’s landline, broadband, mobile and broadcast networks and services. Today’s consultation sets out the information that Ofcom plans to gather from stakeholders, whilst considering the need to minimise the administrative burden on them.

The consultation can be found here

Source: Ofcom

The U.S. copyright office issued exemptions to a copyright law, giving legal protection for people who unlock their smartphones like Apple Inc's iPhone. Changing operators' fixed phone settings -- a concept known as 'jailbreaking' -- has become widely popular around the world since the 2007 introduction of Apple's iPhone. The move by the copyright office to give exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), will undermine handset makers like Apple's ability to control the installation of software programs on their phones. The copyright office is part of the Library of Congress.

The Library of Congress, which can define exceptions to existing copyright laws, said in a statement that a user can circumvent the phone's functionality to use any legally obtained software. The ruling also allows users to change the wireless service provider. Currently, AT&T Inc is the sole wireless service provider for Apple in the U.S.

See Press Release
Source: Reuters

Kenya plans to block unregistered SIM cards in Kenya from next month may have to be delayed as the necessary legislation has not been passed by the Parliament. Although the regulator is mandating registration of all PrePay accounts, the laws that would be required to impose punishments on avoiders are currently stalled.
Even if the government were to approve the two bills - the Freedom of Information and the Data Protection Act - they still have to be debated by politicians, who are currently on recess until next month.
Recent figures from the country's largest mobile network, Safaricom show that around 70 percent of its customers have registered their details. Rival operators, Zain, Telkom Kenya and Essar have all registered less than half of their recorded customer base.

See Press Release
Source Cellular-news

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has withdrawn its offer for telcos to apply for radio frequency spectrum licences in the 2.6GHz and 3.5GHz bands. In May the regulator released a set of guidelines regarding how it intends to grant spectrum licences in cases where there are competing applications, or when insufficient spectrum is available to accommodate demand. The deadline was initially set for 30 June, and later extended to 30 July.

Although no applications have actually been lodged to date, ICASA spokesperson Macia Socikwa explained that the regulator had been ‘inundated with correspondence from stakeholders seeking clarity on the finer details of the licensing processes’ since the publication of the final High Demand Spectrum Licence Regulations. Although the licences will be withdrawn and revised to take into account certain technological considerations, the existing regulations will be implemented as is.

See Press Release 
Source: Balancingact-africa

As India prepares to adopt new regulations designed to thwart spying and sabotage, mobile phone operators say this could squeeze their profits and accelerate consolidation in the industry. The rules would require operators in India to have foreign equipment they purchase inspected by third-party laboratories in the United States, Canada or Israel for the presence of spyware or “malware”. India is concerned about spying particularly from China and Pakistan.

See article
Source: The New York Times

EU regulators are taking a hard look at allegations of anti-competitive behaviour in Internet search services amid concerns that dominant players may be abusing their position, Europe's antitrust chief said on Wednesday EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia was making his first comments since three online firms complained to the European Commission about Google, the world's leading search engine, in February. Google said in February that British price comparison site Foundem and French legal search engine ejustice.fr had alleged that its search algorithm demoted their sites in Web search results because they were rivals of Google. It said Microsoft-owned service Ciao from Bing had complained about Google's standard terms and conditions. Google denied it had done anything wrong.

See Press Release
Source: Information policy

Thai newspaper The Nation reports that a senate committee has asked the country’s regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), to increase the starting bid price for the 3G licences due to be auctioned later in the year. Three next generation concessions will be on offer in September, and the committee has asked for the starting bid price to be THB30 billion (USD913 million) rather than the THB12.8 billion specified by the watchdog. NTC commissioner Natee Sukonrat said the regulator is unlikely to change the reserve again; the price has already gone up once from the THB10 billion given in the original draft. All three licences will be valid for 15 years and will be for 15MHz of spectrum. The licensees will have to reach at least 50% population coverage within two years, although if they achieve 80% within that time they will be allowed to defer the final instalment payment by a year.

See Press Release
Source: TeleGeography

Director General of the National Telecommunications Corporation (NTC), Dr. Kamel Ezzaddin Amin affirmed Sudan's intention to support and develop the Arab Telecommunications Regulators Network. Dr. Amin appreciated the efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during its presidency of the Arab Telecommunications Regulators Network last year, referring to the tangible achievements in various fields of communications. It is to be noted that Sudan took over the Presidency of the Arab Telecommunications Regulators' network from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

See article
Source: Sudan Vision Daily

Bermuda has turned its back on plans to push a new telecoms reform bill through the House of Assembly before the summer recess. Michael Scott, the country’s Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce, recently said he would table the Regulatory Authority Act and the Electronic Communications Act bills before the summer recess. The decision is welcome news to the likes of KeyTech Ltd which had called for a delay to allow discussion on what the reform was meant to achieve.

See article
Source: Telegeography

The European Court of Justice  has  issued its ruling that the Portuguese government’s so-called ‘golden share’ in  PTO Portugal Telecom (PT) constitutes a violation of European Union rules.  The Court of Justice dismissed Lisbon’s arguments seeking to retain its special rights for PT.

See Article
Source: TeleGeography

El Consejo Nacional de Telecomunicaciones – CONATEL – pone en conocimiento de la ciudadanía en general, que de conformidad con lo dispuesto en los artículos 11 numeral 3,313,424,425 y 426 de la Constitución de l República del Ecuador; así como en las Decisiones 608, 616 y 462 de la Comunidad Andina de Naciones, únicamente en lo que fuere aplicable, el Art. 39 de la Ley Especial de Telecomunicaciones Reformada; en los artículos 17, 18, 19 27 y siguientes correspondientes al Título IV del Reglamento General a la Ley Especial de Telecomunicaciones Reformada; y las Resoluciones del CONATEL relativas a la materia, especialmente pero sin limitarlas a las 415-15-CONATEL-2005 y 498-25-CONATEL-2002, ha iniciado el proceso para calificación de Operador Dominante en el servicio móvil de voz (móvil-móvil) en territorio ecuatoriano.

See Press Release
Source: Consejo Nacional de Telecomunicaciones CONATEL

A draft decree allowing foreign investors to hold up to 30% of local telecoms companies will be submitted to the Vietnamese government. At present, foreign companies are only allowed to enter the telecoms market via business cooperation contracts, which sanction overseas operators to invest in a state-run enterprise and receive a share of its profits for between five and 15 years, but which leaves control with the state.

See Article
Source:TeteGeography

Italy's Antitrust Authority said it was opening a probe into allegations Telecom Italia SpA (TI) was abusing its dominant position in the nation's telecommunications market. The charges were brought by rivals Fastweb SpA (FWB.MI) and Wind SpA.

See Press Release

Source: Telecom Italia

A consultation on key questions arising from the issue of net neutrality has been launched by the European Commission. It covers such issues as whether internet providers should be allowed to adopt certain traffic management practices, prioritising one kind of internet traffic over another, whether such traffic management practices may create problems and have unfair effects for users, whether the level of competition between different internet service providers and the transparency requirements of the new telecom framework may be sufficient to avoid potential problems by allowing consumers' choice and whether the EU needs to act further to ensure fairness in the internet market, or whether industry should take the lead. European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, announced in April 2010 her intention to launch this consultation in order to take forward Europe's net neutrality debate. The consultation will feed into a Commission report on net neutrality, which should be presented by the end of this year. All interested parties – service and content providers, consumers, businesses and researchers – are invited to respond to the consultation by 30 September 2010. An open and neutral internet underpins many of the targets set out in the Digital Agenda for Europe.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

En cumplimiento de la Resolución del Poder Ejecutivo de fecha 31/05/2010 la Unidad Reguladora de Servicios de Comunicaciones (URSEC) informa que el 29 de agosto de 2010 a las 2:00 A.M. entrarán en vigencia los cambios en la numeración y marcación telefónica introducidos por el Plan Nacional de Numeración aprobado por esta Unidad.
Ver tambien: Comunicado de UIT sobre cambios del PNN en Uruguay

See Press Release
Source: Unidad Reguladora de Servicios de Comunicaciones URSEC

Country uses controversial 'golden share' in telecoms incumbent to stop sale of Brazilian shares. The Portuguese government Wednesday vetoed an EUR7.15 billion bid from Spain's Telefonica SA to buy out Portugal Telecom SGPS SA from the two companies' Brazilian joint venture, in a surprise move that sets the stage for a confrontation with European Union authorities.

See Press Release
Source: Total Telecom

The government of Botswana reaffirmed its intention to privatise Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC). Presidential affairs minister Lesego Motsumi told the process was delayed because the government had to carry out lengthy consultation activities with stakeholders in a bid to minimise risks and maximise benefits. According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, the privatisation of BTC was first mooted in June 2006, with initial plans envisaging the sale of between 40% and 49% of the telco to a strategic investor and a 5% share to employees.

See Article
Source : Telegeography

The Australian Government today welcomed the announcement by Telstra and NBN Co that they had entered into a Financial Heads of Agreement. This agreement paves the way for a faster, cheaper, more efficient rollout of the National Broadband Network, with faster take-up. This is an important step in the delivery of the single largest nation building infrastructure project in Australian history, which will increase national productivity and help build a stronger economy.The Agreement between NBN Co and Telstra, worth an expected value of $9 billion, provides for : the reuse of suitable Telstra infrastructure, including pits, ducts and backhaul fibre, by NBN Co as it starts to rollout its new network Ð avoiding unnecessary infrastructure duplication; and the progressive migration of customers from Telstra's copper and pay-TV cable networks to the new wholesale-only fibre network to be built and operated by NBN Co. The Agreement means that: Taxpayers benefit because it reduces the overall cost of building the network and will result in higher take-up rates and revenue for NBN Co; A greater proportion of the NBN rollout will be underground, with less overhead cabling. Australia's largest telecommunications company, Telstra, will become a participant in the rollout of the NBN, and is likely to become NBN Co's largest customer.

See Press Release

Source : ACMA

For SindiTelebrasil, incentives and regulation would be sufficient to meet the National Broadband Plan (PNBL).

The director of SindiTelebrasil, Eduardo Levy, said that the documents so far published by the government about the National Broadband are vague and do not give legal certainty that no change of rules. It also says that what is posted adds little in relation to targets and conditions for the private sector can contribute to the plan.

See Press Release 
Source SindiTelebrasil, National Union of Telephone Companies and Service Cellular Mobile and Personal

The  National Communications Commission (NCC) has reacted positively to the news that Taiwan's WiMAX operators intend to convert to Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. 4G licensing will take place in 2014 at the earliest. However, no decisions have yet been made with regard to spectrum planning or the number of 4G licences. Four broadband operators – Global Mobile, Tatung Telecom, FarEasTone (FET) and VMAX – were awarded technology-neutral licences and the NCC has indicated that the quartet may apply to alter their operational plans in order to adopt different mobile technologies – including LTE.

See Article

Source: TeleGeography

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has published a ‘final’ date of 30 August 2010 for  auction of 2100MHz 3G mobile licences. The NTC’s third ‘3G Information Memorandum’ states that a maximum of three 15-year licences including 2x15MHz of spectrum  will be bid on. Licences are due to be issued in September. Winners will be liable for an annual licence fee of 2% of revenues and a Universal Service Obligation of 4%, and must commit to cover 50% of the population.

See Article

Source: TeleGeography

The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry,  announced the launch of a public consultation on foreign investment restrictions in the telecommunications sector.

“Our goal is to encourage investment, innovation and competition in the telecommunications sector for the benefit of both businesses and consumers,” said Minister Clement. “We look forward to receiving Canadians’ views on this important issue.” In the Speech from the Throne and Budget 2010: Leading the Way on Jobs and Growth, the Government of Canada committed to opening Canada’s doors further to venture capital and to foreign investment in key sectors, including telecommunications, in order to attract new capital and to encourage innovation and competition. The consultation will run until July 30, 2010. The consultation paper outlines the current restrictions, describes how Canada compares with other countries and presents the following three options for consideration:

• Increase the limit for direct foreign investment in broadcasting and telecommunications common carriers to 49 percent;
• Lift restrictions on telecommunications common carriers with a 10-percent market share or less, by revenue; or
• Remove telecommunications restrictions completely.

See Press Release
See page of consultation
Source: Industry Canada

Moldova’s National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI)  announced it suspended the wireless licence of Eventis Mobile for a further two months. This follows  a request from the GSM operator’s insolvency administrator.  ANRCETI says that Eventis failed to comply with its licence conditions, which obliged the cellco to provide 60% of the population with network coverage and operate at least 340 base stations by the end of 2009.

See Article
Source : TeleGeopgraphy

"ICT for all - Technology supporting an inclusive world" has been published. This report explores Europe's vision for a society where every individual can make a valuable contribution. Investments in pioneering and commercially focused research will produce information and communication technologies (ICTs) that should help everyone - including the elderly, disabled and marginalised - to fulfil their potential.

Source: Europa

INF 7 0100 IST-R policy report-eInclusion_final studio.pdf (604,32 KB)

The European Commission today welcomed the launch of a €500 million initiative which boosts European supercomputer capacities and opens them up to scientists across Europe. The Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe (PRACE) unites the European Commission and 20 countries across Europe in a unique initiative which will enable researchers to use super fast computers located in other countries to make up to 1000 trillion calculations per second for their research projects. This could be used for example to speed up the development of more efficient solar cells or help us understand how drugs interact with the human body.

See Press Release
Source: Europe

An Egyptian court has overturned a regulatory decision regarding the termination fees paid by Telecom Egypt to connect landline calls to mobile phones, reports the Reuters news agency, citing the daily al-Mal newspaper. Telecom Egypt had complained to the telecoms regulator in 2008 that the fees should be lowered. Mobile network operator, Mobinil appealed against the lowered termination rate and an administrative court has ruled in favour of Mobinil. The telecoms regulator would not take further action until it reviewed the details of the ruling, the newspaper added.

Telecom Egypt is expect to have to take a charge of EGP426 million (US$74.5 million) if the higher rate is applied, although Mobinil has been recording its revenues based on the higher figure so wont be able to book a one-off gain.

See Press Release
Source: cellular-news 

European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes will present the Digital Agenda for Europe, the first flagship initiative under the EU2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, to EU Telecoms Ministers at the EU's Council of Transport Telecommunications and Energy Ministers in Brussels on 31st May. The Digital Agenda for Europe (see IP/10/581, MEMO/10/199, MEMO/10/200) proposes ways to boost job creation, promote economic prosperity and improve the daily lives of EU citizens and businesses via the wider and smarter use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Neelie Kroes will invite Ministers to join the European Parliament and the Commission in working to implement the Digital Agenda, and the Council is due to adopt conclusions welcoming the Digital Agenda. Vice-President Kroes is also due to exchange views with Ministers on promoting an EU Code of Online Rights to boost consumer trust and the take-up of digital services and will present the European Digital Competitiveness Report (see IP/10/571) and the 15th Progress Report on the Single European Electronic Communications Market (see IP/10/602). In the margins of the Council, EU ministers are also due to agree on the seat of the new Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) (see SPEECH/10/15).

See Press Release

Source: Europa

Nigeria's tele coms regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has confirmed that the delayed Mobile Number Portability will be introduced in the second-half of this year, confirming earlier statements about the issue. Mr. Stephen Bello, the acting vice-chairman of the Commission, told IT News Africa that it had become necessary to introduce MNP because of the high telecom subscriber base in the country. Mr. Earnest Ndukwe, former CEO of NCC, had set May 2009 as the date for the announcement of a timetable for MNP takeoff. On the mode of implementation, he said that the NCC would engage the services of an independent company to oversee the process. He also revealed that the local operators were on board and ready.

See Press Release
Source: cellular-news

The 400 MHz Road Show is a series of regulatory tune-ups designed to inform licensees and stakeholders of changes to the 403-520 MHz band as outlined in The Way Ahead – Decisions and implementation options for the 400 MHz band. The Road Show provides an opportunity for the ACMA to engage with those affected by the review of the 400 MHz and for stakeholders to speak with ACMA staff regarding the new arrangements.

See Press Release
Source: ACMA Australian Communications and Media Authority

France Telecom (FT) has won a legal appeal against a European Union (EU) ruling that it had been illegally offered EUR9 billion (USD11.3 billion) in state aid. The EU’s  General Court ruled that statements made by the government to reassure FT of its support when the telco was reportedly close to bankruptcy was not "state aid". The ruling follows FT’s failure in the same court last year to overturn a separate state aid decision.

Source: Telegeography

Following the assignment of the fourth 3G licence to Free Mobile on 12 January 2010, there remained a 5 MHz block of spectrum and a 4.8 MHz block of spectrum still available in the 2.1 GHz frequency band. The application procedure for the allocation of this remaining spectrum was issued on 25 February 2010. Three applications were submitted on 11 May, by the companies Free Mobile, Orange France and SFR.

See Press Release

Source: ARCEP

Telecoms operators which opposed to newly gazetted regulations on competition, got a temporary reprieve after the government promised to open fresh talks with the industry for a possible review of the contentious segments. Information minister, Mr Samuel Poghisio, said the review would aim at fine-tuning certain aspects of the regulations for clarity and to address the feeling among certain operators that they were being unfairly targeted.

See Press Release
Source: Balancingact-Africa

Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has awarded local telecoms operator GTel a licence allowing it to deploy a network for the provision of fixed telephony services.  GTel,  owned by Vietnamese state-owned vehicles Global Telecommunications Corporation (51%) and GTEL TSC (9%), and Russian mobile group Vimpelcom (40%), already provides wireless services in Vietnam. GTel has become the eighth licensed fixed line operator in Vietnam.

See article
Source: TeleGeography

The E ast Timor (Timor-Leste) government has outlined plans to liberalise the telecoms market by the beginning of next year. The Timorese deputy prime minister, José Luís Guterres said that there was a consensus within the Council of Ministers on the matter following the definition of the aim of liberalising telecommunications some time ago . "Now we need to approve specific laws to regulate the entry of other operators and there are at least two companies that have shown interest: Ireland's Digicel and Indonesia's Telecomcel," he told local news media.

See Press Release
Source: cellular-news

The Government of Canada  unveiled a national consultation aimed at building consensus among governments, the private sector, academia and the Canadian public in developing a digital economy strategy for Canada. The commitment to developing the strategy was outlined in both the government’s Speech from the Throne and Budget 2010 and is aimed at positioning Canada for leadership in the global digital economy.

See Press Release

Speech: Canada 3.0 Conference

Source: Industry Canada

The European Commission has decided to formally request Bulgaria to ensure that all customers can keep their fixed phone number when changing operator, as required by EU telecoms rules. Bulgaria had been given an extended deadline to introduce this requirement by 1 January 2009. The Commission issued a first warning in May last year when the deadline passed without results (IP/09/773). The Bulgarian authorities took action and since July 2009 a large majority of Bulgarian fixed-line phone customers have been able to keep their phone number when changing operator. However, the Commission has now decided to formally request Bulgaria to ensure that the remaining fixed phone subscribers still using analogue lines also have this option. The request is in the form of a 'reasoned opinion' under infringement procedures laid down by the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Article 258 of the TFEU).

See Press Release

Source: Europa

The Authority’s conclusion is that there  was a substantive breach of section 7M of the Ordinance in nature and with significant impact on the consumers.    Taking  all factors into account, the Authority is of the opinion that in this case of a first financial penalty for CSL, the penalty which is proportionate and reasonable in relation to the conduct concerned is $130,000.
Source: OFTA

In an online video address, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski explains the suggested “third way” approach developed by FCC staff to secure a solid legal foundation for broadband policy in the wake of the recent Comcast court decision.

The FCC also launched a series of new media resources at Broadband.gov -- including blog posts, frequently asked questions, and a glossary of terms -- to educate the public about the complex, technical legal issues involved. These resources will be updated on an ongoing basis. FCC Chairman Genachowski video address available here. FCC Chairman Genachowski blog post available here.

See press release attached

Source: FCC

DOC-297976A1.doc (69,5 KB)

The European Commission has decided to ask the EU Court of Justice to fine Italy for failing to respect a previous Court judgement for not providing full caller location information for emergency services. Member States have an obligation to ensure that when a person dials Europe's single emergency number (112) from a mobile phone, details of his or her location are sent to the emergency services. The Commission's decision to refer Italy back to the Court follows two previous warnings from the Commission.

See Press Release
Source: cellular-news

FICORA's investigations show that the local loop charges Elisa Oyj charges from other telecom operators are not cost-oriented as required by the Communications Market Act, but the prices are unreasonably high. The authority has scrutinized the lawfulness of the pricing of Elisa's monthly fees and connection charges for local loops on behalf of TeliaSonera Oyj's request for action.

In today's decision, FICORA has set maximum prices to be charged by Elisa for leasing out a part of a local loop. Within three months, Elisa must reduce its pricing to a level based on actual costs and deliver new price tariffs and cost calculations to FICORA. According to FICORA's calculations, the unreasonability of pricing is significant. For example, the monthly price of a local loop must be reduced by more than 20 per cent.

See press release
Source: FICORA

Increasing competition, key regulatory changes, and the arrival of number portability for mobile services will all help to drive telecom revenue in Turkey over the next five years, according to a new report from Pyramid Research.

With the effects of the economic crisis slowly diminishing, Pyramid forecasts that Turkey's telecom sector will grow at 4.3 percent CAGR over the next five years, reaching US$17.5 billion by 2014. Growth will be propelled by strong demand for mobile voice and data services, as well as increases in broadband data and pay-TV revenues, notes Kerem Arsal, analyst at Pyramid Research and author of the report.

See Press Release
Source: cellular-news

The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) says that it is proposing the continuation of rules to ensure that mobile operators accept voice calls from other operators and maintain cost-orientated prices. Market stakeholders are now being consulted about this proposal and have one month to submit their views. The PTS says that it wants to prevent operators charging excessive prices for services that they sell to each other and that are required for interconnection to function.

There have been similar rules for major mobile operators since 2004, but PTS now proposes that additional operators should be covered by these rules. The operators that PTS proposes should continue to have obligations in the market include Hi3G, Tele 2, Telenor and TeliaSonera. New operators that did not previously have obligations have been added: AINMT (Icenet), Lycamobile, Spring Mobil, TDC and Ventelo.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular News

Developing intelligent artificial hands for hand amputees, neural devices to help people suffering from vertigo, dizziness and other vestibular disorders and the possibility to see how your brain responds while learning are a few examples of European research carried out in the area of future and emerging information and communication technologies (FET) that are being presented in the European Parliament in Strasbourg today. Twelve outstanding science projects funded under the European Commission's Future and Emerging Technologies programme will be showcased at the exhibition on "Science beyond Fiction: an Excursion into Future and Emerging Technologies".
Europe is taking the lead in FET by proposing to invest around €500 million in exploratory research into high risk future Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

See Press Release 
Source: Europa

Broadband.co.uk has  been awarded Ofcom accreditation for its price comparison calculator. The Ofcom price accreditation scheme logo is awarded to price comparison sites that have had their calculators put through a rigorous independent audit.  The audit checks whether the information provided to consumers is accessible, accurate, transparent, comprehensive and up to date.

The full news release can be found here

Source: OFCOM

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has announced that it will conduct a formal inquiry into customer service and complaints handling in the telecommunications industry following what it says is an on-going high volume of complaints to the industry ombudsman.
Announcing the inquiry, ACMA Chairman Chris Chapman said, "Many would share the ACMA's concern about whether the current arrangements which underpin telecommunications consumer protection are really effective in dealing with the issues that concern consumers most."

See Press Release
Source: Cellular News

Dr. / Tarek Kamel, Minister of Communications and Information Technology welcomed, the offer of "France Telecom" and "Orascom Telecom Holding"  in a meeting with the Minister of Communications and Information Technology of the major basis for a new comprehensive agreement regarding the settlement of disputes between them on Mobinil in Egypt. The Minister noted that the Egyptian government is glad to see the continued partnership between the two prominent Egyptian and French partners in Mobinil, and that this was always consistent position of the Government throughout the conflict, the Minister added, coordination is in progress with the Minister of Investment Dr. / Mahmoud Mohi Eldin. France Telecom and Orascom Telecom Holding presented today the outline of a new and comprehensive agreement on Mobinil and ECMS to the Egyptian Minister of Communications & Information Technology, Dr. Tarek Kamel. The agreement, which has been signed  and will be finalized over the coming weeks, will effectively bring to an end all disputes in relation to their joint investment in Mobinil. The two groups will continue their partnership on a renewed basis going forward, implementing a revised shareholder agreement but with no change to the existing ownership structure or their shareholders’ voting rights. This agreement will allow the two telecoms operators to contribute their respective know-how and added value to the successful and profitable development of Mobinil and ECMS, the country’s leading mobile operator.

See Press Release
Source: France Telecom

Congo-Brazaville complained that it had not been informed of Bharti Airtel's nine billion dollar-deal to buy Kuwaiti telco Zain's African assets.  This might contravene Zain's licence. Telecoms Minister, Thierry Moungalla, said the parties had 30 days to remedy the situation or face sanctions. A Bharti Airtel spokesman in New Delhi declined comment.  Bharti is currently in the process of getting regulatory approval for the accord.

See Press Coverage

(Source: Balancing Act)

The Australian Communications and Media Authority will conduct a formal inquiry into customer service and complaints handling in the telecommunications industry following the on-going high volume of complaints to the industry ombudsman. Announcing the inquiry today, ACMA Chairman Chris Chapman said, ‘Many would share the ACMA’s concern about whether the current arrangements which underpin telecommunications consumer protection are really effective in dealing with the issues that concern consumers most. ‘The trend-line growth and sheer quantum of complaints about complaint handling and customer service —up to 900 every working day—reflects poorly on the entire industry. Whether this is evidence of a failing regulatory system or just a perception of that failure, I now believe this issue has to be confronted directly and urgently otherwise we will be talking about these same issues for years to come.

See Press Release
Source: ACMA

Court proceedings against Australia’s fixed line incumbent Telstra commence today after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) initiated legal action following claims that the telco had deliberately delayed the rollout of rivals’ ADSL networks, iTWire reports. The Federal Court in Melbourne will hear the case, which alleges that Telstra falsely claimed that there was no room in local exchanges for other operators’ equipment, with existing legislation allowing for fines of up to AUD10 million (USD9.23 million) for every violation of the rules; the case reportedly contains allegations of 30 separate occasions on which access was blocked.

See Press Release
Source: TeleGeography 

On 19 April the EU ministers responsible for the Information Society policy of the European Union member states and the European Economic Area agreed on the new digital agenda for the next ten years. The so-called EU2020 Strategy comprises action on high-speed broadband infrastructure, advanced use of the open Internet, security and trust, digital user rights, the digital single market, public digital services, and strengthening the competitiveness of the ICT industry.

The EU ministers also seek to strengthen the role of the EU in international fora for ICT standards, audiovisual policy and digital rights, and strive to safeguard the evolution of Internet Governance in line with principles such as transparency, multilateralism, democracy and the full involvement of all stakeholders.

See Press Release
Source: International Telecommunications User Group

As India's 3G license auction entered its second week, the bidding finished Monday evening with a single license to cover the whole country costing Rs. 60.67 billion (US$1.36 billion). There have now been 46 rounds of bidding over eight days. Demand for the licenses seemed to slow slightly after a surge at the end of last week, with most circles showing almost as many bids as there were available licenses. However, activity level still hovers around the 80% mark with most of the focus on the Metro and A Circles. Delhi retained its position as the most desired circle, with bids ending at Rs 6.91 billion, and Mumbai coming second at Rs 6.36 billion per license.

See Press Release
Source: cellular-news

The European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO) welcomes the importance given to high-speed broadband networks and services in the EU 2020 Strategy as key drivers of growth, innovation and welfare. Ensuring the best conditions for their deployment and take up will therefore be one of the key priorities for ETNO during the years to come.

See Press Release
Source: ETNO

The concept of Mobile Number Portability could witness an early implementation as frantic efforts are being made to put it in place. The Minister of Communication, Haruna Iddrisu has stated that the testing of equipment for take off would be done in June, this year, while full implementation would be conducted in 2011, a year short of the implementation date of 2012.

See Press Release
Source: Balancing Act

Tanzania's Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has given mobile network operating licenses to five more companies, bringing the tally for the country to twelve. The country now has one of the highest ratios of licenses to potential customers in the world, although with a population penetration level of just 43%, there is space for new companies to grow. The five new entrants are MyCell, Egotel, Rural Netco, Smile and ExcellentCom.
They are expected to enter the country's communication industry when the process to give them network facility licensees is completed," TCRA director-general John Nkoma told The Citizen newspaper.

Source: cellular-news
See Press Release

On 16 March 2010 the Lithuanian telecoms authority RRT informed the European Commission that it was withdrawing its proposed measure on network infrastructure access markets. These access services are used by alternative operators to connect their customers to telecoms services like telephone and internet. The Commission had earlier this month raised serious doubts about the compatibility of the proposed regulation with the principles of EU competition law and EU's telecoms rules and had launched a two month investigation. RRT has now indicated to the Commission that it intends to revise its findings and notify the revised measure to the Commission.

Source: Europa - Information Society
See Press Release 

The European Commission has adopted new rules to make it easier for passengers and crew on ships in the EU's territorial waters to make mobile phone calls or send and receive text messages when they are out of range of land-based mobile phone networks. The new rules harmonise the technical and legal conditions for on-board communication services and pave the way for innovative applications, such as remote monitoring of containers stored on-board. This brings new legal certainty and economic opportunities, for service providers who want to offer seamless maritime mobile connectivity across borders.

See Press Release
Source: Europa - Information Society

In response to press enquiries on an article on mobile broadband service survey published by the Consumer Council in its CHOICE magazine today (15 March 2010), the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) indicated that in view of the increasing popularity of mobile broadband service, OFTA has taken a number of initiatives recently with a view to increasing the level of customer satisfaction in using innovative telecommunications services and to providing a fair regulatory environment conducive to business investment.

See Press Release

Source: OFTA

Dutch national regulator the Independent Post Telecommunications Authority (OPTA) has released its final version of the Open Cable rules and pricing applicable to the country’s major cable operators Ziggo and UPC Nederland, Broadband TVNews reports. Under the OPTA’s new regime, both cablecos will be required to to make their networks available to third-party resellers within a twelve-week period for any subscriber currently taking only an analogue service. The decision is a relaxation of the regulator’s original stipulation that access must be afforded within eight weeks and comes after a volley of complaints from the operators themselves. In addition, Dutch cable users wishing to sign up to either dual- or triple-play bundles has been extended from 28 to 35 weeks. As such, Ziggo and UPC’s analogue customers must wait until June 2010 (basic TV) and November 2010 (multi-play) before they can switch provider.

See Press Release
Source: TeleGeography 

Ancom launches for public consultation the document that reviews the regulatory measures on the market for the provision of full or shared unbundled access to the local loop. The local loop is the physical circuit between an end-user and the main distribution frame of a fixed public telephone network or the equivalent element of a public electronic communications network. The local loop may be used to provide both telephone services at fixed locations and broadband electronic communications services.

See Press release
Source: ANCOM

The European Commission has ruled that Polish telecom regulator Urz¹d Komunikacji Elektronicznej (UKE) must withdraw its plans to regulate the markets for internet traffic exchange services in Poland. Internet service providers use these data traffic exchange services to connect their customers to the Internet. After a two-month investigation, the Commission has decided that UKE has failed to show that competitive conditions in Poland require the regulation of these markets, which are not regulated elsewhere in the EU. Indeed, internet service providers are able to connect to the Internet not only by using direct interconnection services provided by the Polish incumbent Telekomunikacja Polska "TP" but also by indirect interconnection via other operators.

See Press Release

Source: Europa

The European Commission has ruled that Polish telecom regulator Urz¹d Komunikacji Elektronicznej (UKE) must withdraw its plans to regulate the markets for internet traffic exchange services in Poland. Internet service providers use these data traffic exchange services to connect their customers to the Internet. After a two-month investigation, the Commission has decided that UKE has failed to show that competitive conditions in Poland require the regulation of these markets, which are not regulated elsewhere in the EU. Indeed, internet service providers are able to connect to the Internet not only by using direct interconnection services provided by the Polish incumbent Telekomunikacja Polska "TP" but also by indirect interconnection via other operators.

See Press Release

Source: Europa

El Ministro de Transportes y Comunicaciones, Enrique Cornejo, anunció hoy que en lo que resta del régimen, su despacho pondrá énfasis en sentar las bases para el desarrollo sostenido de la transmisión de datos por la Banda Ancha en todo el país para aprovechar el gran potencial de este moderno servicio de telecomunicación, en beneficio del desarrollo económico nacional.

En ese sentido, el Ministro Cornejo encomió la constitución en la fecha, en el ámbito del MTC, de una comisión multisectorial temporal que se encargará de elaborar el Plan Nacional para el Desarrollo de la Banda Ancha en el Perú, en un plazo de 120 días.

See Press Release
Source: Perú - Ministerio de Transporte y Comunicaciones (MTC)

Federal regulators trying to bring high-speed Internet connections to all Americans will propose tapping the government program that now subsidizes telephone service in poor and rural areas. The Federal Communications Commission will include a proposal to revamp the Universal Service Fund as part of a national broadband plan due to Congress on March 17. Although the proposal itself has been expected for months, Friday's announcement offered the first solid details.

The FCC said it envisions transforming the Universal Service program over the next decade to pay for high-speed Internet access instead of the traditional voice services that it currently finances. The proposal would create a Connect America fund inside the Universal Service program to subsidize broadband, and a Mobility Fund to expand the reach of so-called 3G, or third-generation, wireless networks.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-news

El presidente del Consejo Directivo del Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones (INDOTEL), negó categóricamente que en esa entidad se tenga la intención de dañar la imagen o la buena reputación de la Compañía Dominicana de Teléfonos, C. Por A. (CODETEL/CLARO).
El doctor José Rafael Vargas reiteró a la prensa que, en su sesión del 2 de marzo, el Consejo Directivo del órgano regulador de las telecomunicaciones ordenó solicitar a CODETEL/CLARO las informaciones correspondientes a los planes que aplicará a sus usuarios, para fines de compensación por las averías ocurridas en el servicio telefónico móvil GSM provisto por esa concesionaria, los días 15, 16 y 26 de febrero y 1 de marzo de 2010.

See Press Release
Source: Santo Domingo - Consejo Directivo del Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones (INDOTEL)

The European Commission has launched today the Europe 2020 Strategy to go out of the crisis and prepare EU economy for the next decade. The Commission identifies three key drivers for growth, to be implemented through concrete actions at EU and national levels: smart growth (fostering knowledge, innovation, education and digital society), sustainable growth (making our production more resource efficient while boosting our competitiveness) and inclusive growth (raising participation in the labour market, the acquisition of skills and the fight against poverty). This battle for growth and jobs requires ownership at top political level and mobilisation from all actors across Europe. Five targets are set which define where the EU should be by 2020 and against which progress can be tracked.

See Press Release
Source: Europa - Information Society

A public consultation on what is the best approach to ensure that basic telecoms services are available for all EU citizens has been launched today by the European Commission. Current EU rules on universal service obligations for telecoms date from 2002 and guarantee that Europeans have access to public telephone networks and to services like basic internet access. The consultation launched today aims to see if these rules and definitions on universal service need to be updated for the digital age, and in particular if they should be extended to cover broadband access. Reactions from consumers, industry stakeholders, and policy experts will help the Commission decide if it needs to present new legislative proposals on universal service obligations for telecoms by end of 2010. The consultation will run until 7 May 2010.

See press release

Source: Europa

La Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes acelera las medidas para promover una política de competencia, convergencia y cobertura en el sector telecomunicaciones. Así, trabaja simultáneamente en distintos frentes para asegurar la rectoría del Estado sobre el espectro radioeléctrico garantizando el uso eficiente del mismo, otorgar seguridad jurídica a los operadores y abatir el rezago existente en materia de concesiones y prórrogas.
- Acelera las medidas para promover una política de competencia, convergencia y cobertura en el sector telecomunicaciones
- Niega la prórroga de dos concesiones de TV restringida en los canales 46 y 52 en la ciudad de México
- Determina sancionar a TV Azteca y Televisora del Valle de México por la transmisión de un servicio de telecomunicaciones que no cuenta con concesión
- Niega la prórroga de nueve concesiones en la banda de 2.5 a 2.7 GHz.

See Press Release
Source: Mexico - Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes  

Heated discussions have been aroused by the recent widespread media coverage of the “Fair Usage Policies” (hereinafter referred to as “Policies”) on the unlimited usage of mobile broadband services implemented by mobile network operators.

See Press Release
Source: OFTA Office of the Telecommunications Authority

 The New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008 (NET 911 Act) became law on July 23, 2008, requiring Internet Protocol (IP) enabled voice service providers to provide 911 and enhanced 911 (E911) services, and requiring various regulatory undertakings by the Federal Communications Commission.

See Press Release 
Source: FCC Federal Communications Commission

Mintic y CRC dan a conocer decisiones regulatorias de gran impacto para los usuarios El Ministerio de Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones y la Comisión de Regulación de Comunicaciones a través del Ministro (E) de TIC, Daniel Medina Velandia, y del Director ejecutivo de la CRC, Cristhian Lizcano Ortiz, dan a conocer decisiones regulatorias adoptadas por el organismo regulador, referentes a: 1.Aumento de velocidad de acceso a Internet considerada como de Banda Ancha 2.Implementación de Portabilidad Numérica de Telefonía Móvil en Colombia y 3.Reducción de Cargos de Interconexión a Redes Móviles

See Press Release

Source: Comisión de Regulación de Comunicaciones

 The Australian Communications and Media Authority has accepted an enforceable undertaking offered by Commonwealth Securities Limited (CommSec), following complaints that commercial electronic messages continued to be sent to customers after consent had been withdrawn.

 The ACMA commenced an investigation following complaints from consumers alleging that CommSec continued to send them commercial messages, despite the fact that they had previously withdrawn their consent. The ACMA also identified that email campaigns conducted by CommSec in January, February and March 2009, did not provide an option to unsubscribe.

See Press Release 

Source: ACMA  Australian Communications and Media Authority

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has issued recently its Determination declaring both Batelco and Zain dominant in their mobile termination services markets. TRA also issued a Position Paper on the regulation of mobile termination rates. Mobile termination is a wholesale service, used by operators to terminate calls, Short Messaging Services (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) on mobile networks. 

According to this determination, Zain’s wholesale mobile termination rates i.e. the amount charged to other operators to terminate a call, will be regulated consistent with the provisions of the Telecommunications Law applying to operators declared dominant. Batelco rates will continue to be regulated.

See Press Release

Source: Bahrain - Telecommunications Regulatory Authority .

Haitian telecoms regulator Conatel has granted 12MHz of additional spectrum in the 850MHz band to local mobile operator Comcel (Voila) to help with relief efforts in the wake of the devastating earthquake on 12 January, Stewart Sherriff, CTO with Voila's US-based parent Trilogy International, told BNamericas. Sherriff stressed that the extra spectrum was crucial as networks were being stretched to the limit with the surge in traffic. ‘We're very grateful for the 12MHz the government gave us. It will aid enormously in relieving the congestion we have in the network, he said. Voila now has 47MHz (2x23.5MHz) in the 850MHz band, whilst just a small 2x1.5MHz block remains set aside for emergency purposes.

See Press Release

Source: TeleGeography

Mr. Bernard Forson Jnr, the Director General of the National Communication Authority (NCA) in Ghana, has given subscribers of the country’s various mobile networks have up to 1 July 2011 to register their SIM cards or risk having their line blocked or disconnected. Mr. Emmanuel Owusu Adansi, NCAs Director of Special Projects said ‘all customers should endeavour to register their chips to get their lines activated before 1 July’, adding that registration would improve security for users and also help in the fight against mobile phone-related crime.

See Press Release

Source: TeleGeography

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is well advanced in its review of the regulation of mobile phone jammers in Australia. As part of that review, the ACMA is also seeking views on a proposal to trial mobile phone jammers at the Lithgow Correctional Centre in NSW.

’It is often not appreciated, but there are important issues involved in weighing up the benefits and disadvantages of allowing jamming of mobile telephone networks,’ said Chris Chapman, Chairman of the ACMA. ‘There are obvious circumstances where there would be clear public benefit in inhibiting the use of mobile phones to prevent criminal and potentially life-threatening activities. At the same time, the use of jammers may have implications for the integrity of mobile networks, including the use of Triple Zero and associated safety-of-life issues.’ 

See Press Release

Source: ACMA Australian Government

Washington, D.C. -- Today, Federal Communications Commission Consumer Bureau Chief Joel Gurin and Wireless Bureau Chief Ruth Milkman sent letters to AT&T, Google, Sprint Nextel, TMobile, and Verizon Wireless to gather facts and data on the consumer experience with wireless early termination fees. This inquiry follows last week’s launch of the FCC’s Consumer Task Force, which was established to promote cross-agency collaboration on the Commission’s consumer agenda.

See Press Release 

Source: FCC Federal Communications Commission

Como una medida para impulsar la competitividad, promover las inversiones brindar certeza jurídica, y apoyar al sector telecomunicaciones, la Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) da por concluidos 22 títulos de concesión para operar sistemas de radiolocalización de personas (paggin) y dos títulos de transmisión de radio y TV restringidas, con ello, recupera espectro radioeléctrico para ser aprovechado con nuevas tecnologías.

La resolución se realizo luego de no presentarse en tiempo y forma las solicitudes de prorroga así como por comprobar tecnología obsoleta de estas técnicas de transmisión.

De esta manera, la SCT busca impulsar la competitividad del sector, y generar un ambiente favorable para la planeación de los negocios, así como favorecer a los consumidores con una más amplia variedad de servicios y proveedores.

Finalmente, la dependencia considera que los criterios indispensables para el desarrollo saludable del sector son: fomentar la competencia y evitar el acaparamiento del espectro; garantizar la explotación eficiente del espectro y el pago de una contraprestación por las concesiones; incrementar la cobertura de los servicios; Introducir nuevas tecnologías; y, permitir la continuidad de los servicios para el usuario.

 

See Press Release

Source: Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transporte

The Government of Canada has varied a Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decision regarding Globalive Wireless Management Corp., a Canadian-owned and controlled company. The variance is effective immediately so that Globalive can enter the wireless telecommunications market without delay. In varying the CRTC decision, the Government is not removing, reducing, bending or creating an exception to Canadian ownership and control requirements in the telecommunications and broadcasting industries. The Government’s decision to vary is specific to the facts of this case.

See Press Release
Source: Industry Canada

The European Commission has sent a letter to the German telecoms regulator, Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), calling on it to make the provision of fixed subscriber lines more competitive. Today the market is still dominated by the incumbent operator, Deutsche Telekom (DT). While Deutsche Telekom's offer means that other operators can sell-on to consumers the use of land lines that they have leased from the incumbent, Deutsche Telekom charges these operators the same price as it does its own consumers. This makes it harder for alternative operators to offer consumers a competitive deal. The Commission wants the German regulator to oblige DT to make its land lines available to other telecoms operators. It also asks BNetzA to supervise wholesale prices for alternative operators providing competing services using Deutsche Telekom's network.

 

See Press Release

Source: Europa

 

Comreg gas published a document for a consultation considering the regulatory approach most appropriate to facilitate the development and deployment of a Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) with a Complementary Ground Component (CGC), following the ratification of European Commission (EC) Decisions1 and the completion of the EC selection process2. The MSS with CGC system is intended to operate in the same frequency bands which were allocated to the MSS in the 2 GHz frequency range. 

 

See the publication

Source: Comreg

See Press Release

 

During a conference on Universal Service, ANCOM has announced that the first stage of the new Universal Service strategy implementation has been completed. The Universal Service is a minimum set of electronic communications services, made available, upon request, to all end-users, at affordable prices and at a certain quality level, irrespective of their geographic location on the territory of an EU Member State. The Universal Service is a right of all the European Union’s citizens and the state The first stage of the implementation of the new Universal Service strategy consisted of a study undertaken in view of identifying the localities where electronic communications networks need to be rolled out.  According to the study, there are currently in Romania two villages (with a total of 140 inhabitants living in 45 households) which do not benefit from any telephone services. As soon as the technical aspects are clarified and the ANCOM decisions on Universal Service are amended, the Authority will designate one or more Universal Service providers which will ensure a connection capable to uphold the provision of telephone services (including emergency calls) and of broadband services (i.e. up to 1Mbps), taking into consideration the principles of efficiency, non-discrimination, technological neutrality and minimum market distortion.needs to intervene where the access to the minimum set of communications services is not ensured by the market mechanisms.

 

 

See Press Release

Source : Ancom

The European Commission has given its green light to the amended definition of the wholesale broadband access market (WBA) notified by the Austrian regulator RTR (Rundfunk und Telekom Regulierungs GmbH). On 5 October 2009, the Commission had expressed serious doubts about the market definition as originally notified by RTR on 3 September 2009. RTR has now provided sufficient evidence that mobile broadband connections are substitutes to fixed line broadband connections for Austrian residential customers. RTR has also modified its wholesale market definition and now excludes all bitstream access for residential customers from regulation. Nevertheless, the Commission invites RTR to closely monitor market developments and to change the market definition if its forecasts on the continued substitutability of fixed and mobile broadband products and next generation access network (NGA) roll-out prove to be incorrect.

See Press Release

Source: Europa

 

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission  determined that Globalive Wireless Management (Globalive) does not meet the Canadian ownership requirements set out in the Telecommunications Act. Under the legislation, a telecommunications company is only eligible to operate in Canada if it is not at any time owned and controlled, in law and in fact, by non-Canadians. Today’s decision follows a public process that included a public hearing, which was held on September 23, September 24 and October 1, 2009.

 

See Decision

Source: CRTC

"Termination rates in Poland still vary highly between mobile phone operators. UKE must do more to reduce this asymmetry and to apply the same price regulation to all four mobile operators. Allowing P4 to charge termination rates that do not reflect true costs does not give the company the right incentive to become an efficient operator and does not allow Polish consumers to benefit from lower prices for mobile calls," said Viviane Reding, the EU Telecoms Commissioner.

Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said, "Lower termination rates will decrease retail prices for mobile voice calls to the immediate benefit of consumers. New entrants may be exceptionally allowed to charge higher rates to reach a minimum efficient scale. However, to limit distortions of competition, such exemptions may only be granted for a limited period of time and should not exceed four years from the date of market entry, as provided by our Termination Rates Recommendation."

See Press Release
Source: Europe's Information Society

 “ The EU telecoms reform will bring more competition on Europe’s telecoms markets, better and cheaper fixed, mobile and internet services and faster internet connections for all Europeans. Thanks to the strong support of the European Parliament today, Europe has put citizens in the centre stage in telecoms regulation”, said Viviane Reding, the EU’s Telecoms Commissioner . ”It is good news for Europe’s consumers that the new powerful tool of functional separation will help national regulators to address persistent competition bottlenecks in telecoms markets, thereby enhancing consumer choice. I am also grateful that the European Parliament has supported the Commission in helping to bring about a more integrated single market in the telecoms field. The establishment of the new European Telecoms Body BEREC, the institutional set-up of which has been substantially designed by European Parliamentarians, is a very visible sign that we are serious when we say that Europe’s telecoms operators and consumers should no longer feel national borders in network access and the delivery of communication services. A true single market for Europe’s telecoms operators and consumers is now within reach. ”

On the 12 most important reforms of the new EU telecoms package , see MEMO/09/513

See Press Release
Source: Europe's Information Society

Telecommunications operators are divided over new proposals meant to promote fair competition and guard against abuse of market power. Of particular contention is a clause that calls for a 30-day notice to the Communication Commission of Kenya before any tariff changes, and another one touching on the definition of a dominant operator.

Safaricom raised the issue that the two clauses were specifically targeting the company and would undermine its ability to compete effectively, adding that they should be deleted. Safaricom's head of legal and regulatory affairs Nzioka Waita said the way the regulator defines a dominant operator targets Safaricom as a company.

See Press Release
Source: Balancing Act - Africa

The Latvian regulator SPRK (Sabiedrisko Pakalpojumu Regulešanas Komisija) proposes to oblige the provision of call-by-call selection, pre-selection and a price control on the incumbent operator Lattelecom because it has significant market power (SMP) in the retail access markets. SPRK does not, however, want to impose the provision of wholesale line rental (WLR).

See Press Release
Source: Europe's Information Society

Spanish operators have blocked some three million prepay SIM cards from making or receiving phone calls pending their owners registering their ownership details. Users of the unregistered SIMs will get an automatic message played when trying to make a phone call instructing them to visit a local retailer.

The operators were due to completely cut off the phones, but a last minute agreement by Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, gives the SIM card owners up to six months to register their ownership before the lines go dead - and losing any prepay credit they may contain.

See Press Release
Source: cellular-news

Bajo el marco de la Ley del Consumidor, la Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones y el Sernac requerirán a la operadora móvil, Claro, un proceso de descuentos que incluya, sin diferencias, a todos sus clientes afectados por el corte de servicio ocurrido entre el martes y miércoles de esta semana.

"No pueden haber clientes de primera y segunda categoría. Todos los usuarios tienen los mismos derechos, independiente de su modalidad de pago", sostuvo el Subsecretario de Telecomunicaciones, Pablo Bello.

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Fuente: Ministerio de Transporte y Telecomunicaciones - Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones

EU lawmakers and governments agreed on new rights for Internet users Thursday, aiming to protect them from arbitrary crackdowns on those who illegally download music and movies on the Internet.

EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding said a deal was reached after EU governments agreed to EU parliament demands to balance measures against illegal downloaders with a broader set of rights for telecom users.

See Press Release
Source: cellular-news

The European Commission has called on the Danish telecoms regulator, IT- og Telestyrelsen (NITA), to reconsider its regulatory approach for terminating calls to non-geographic numbers operated by service providers that offer premium rate services to end-users. Unlike national regulators in other EU Member States, NITA regulates the price of these services, setting them at the same level as for "ordinary" termination services. However, terminating calls to service providers are generally characterised by different competitive conditions than terminating calls to end-users and therefore not necessarily subject to regulation.

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Source Europe's Information Society

Although the European Commission withdrew the regulatory intervention of transit services from the list of markets recommended for regulation, British regulator Ofcom have found that transit services provided at a lower network level still warrant ex-ante regulation. The lack of competitive conditions for the provision of such services, especially on routes with low volumes of traffic, therefore, will continue to be regulated.

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Source Europe's Information Society

The Ministry of Transport and Communications in Helsinki has pushed through a law that will force telecommunications providers to offer high speed internet connections to all of the country's 5.3 million citizens, making broadband internet access a legal right.

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Source Guardian

The High Court has found that Telecom (Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and Telecom New Zealand Limited) used its substantial market power to prevent and deter competition in markets involving high-speed data transmission. The Commerce Commission claimed that Telecom contravened section 36 of the Commerce Act, which prohibits firms with a substantial degree of market power from taking advantage of that power for an anti-competitive purpose.

See Press Release
Source: Commerce Commission New Zealand

The European Commission decided to close infringement proceedings against Italy and Estonia as both countries now fully comply with EU TV advertising rules. For Italy, the Commission had concerns over: 3 minute teleshopping messages not being counted in advertising limits and confusing viewers; TV stations' own promotional spots were not covered by Italy's legal definition of advertising; inefficient sanctions for breaches of advertising rules.

The Commission also launched infringement proceedings against Estonia as TV channels were regularly breaking the EU's limit of 12 minutes of advertising per hour. The two countries were in breach of the EU's Television without Frontiers Directive, but have meanwhile adjusted their national legislation and practice to comply with European audiovisual rules.

See Press Release
Source: Europe's Information Society

The European Commission decided to take Belgium to the European Court of Justice on "must-carry" rules (imposed on broadcasters in the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital) after it failed to address a final warning issued by the Commission in November 2008 (IP/08/699  ). In the Commission's view, the rules, which require cable and other network operators to carry radio and TV channels in the Brussels region, are not proportionate. At the same time, the Commission ended legal action taken against Germany on "must carry" rules. It also closed action against Sweden and the Netherlands on other telecoms issues.

See Press Release
Source: Europe's Information Society

The European Commission has called on the Austrian telecoms regulator, Rundfunk und Telekom Regulierungs GmbH (RTR), to suspend the adoption of regulatory measures regarding the definition of the Austrian broadband access market, the so call bitstream access market. The Commission has serious doubts as to the compatibility of the provisions defining the Austrian wholesale broadband access market with EU law. In the notification submitted one month ago, RTR has provided insufficient evidence to support its finding that mobile broadband connections can be considered as substitutes to fixed line DSL and cable connections. The Commission also has doubts regarding the scope of RTR's wholesale market definition for bitstream access. The Commission has therefore asked RTR not to adopt the measure until the Commission has taken a final decision on RTR's proposal.

See Press Release
Source: Europe's Information Society

The French parliament yesterday, approved the internet piracy bill championed by President Nicolas Sarkozy and first lady Carla Bruni. One of the toughest ever drafted bills against the illegal downloading of media, it was opposed by consumer groups but was backed heavily by the music and film industry. Those found guilty can be handed down an internet ban by a judge or be fined up to EUR 300,000 ($415,000) or receive a two-year jail sentence.

See More
Source Total Telecom

Canada's Supreme Court  dismissed an appeal by two main phone companies asking to reject an order by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. to distribute  funds to residential subscribers through a one-time tax credit or by lowering phone rates.

Source:  Total Telecom

See the decision Bell Canada v. Bell Aliant Regional Communications, 2009 SCC 40

In efforts to boost competition in the UK telecommunication sector, Ofcom has removed one of the last remaining regulations in the retail fixed-line market; a move that was welcomed by the incumbent. This enables BT for the first time to offer discounted fixed-line calls as part of its bundles, which also include fixed broadband and its BT Vision IPTV service.

See More
Source Total Telecom

Mobile termination rates in Slovakia are amongst the highest in Europe. Therefore, the European Commission has repeated its calls for the Slovakian telecoms regulator, Telekomunikaèný úrad Slovenskej republiky (TÚSR), to bring mobile termination rates to more competitive levels in Slovakia.

Further, the European Commission has, for a second time, asked the Czech telecoms regulator, Cesky telekomunikacni urad (CTU) to further reduce mobile termination rates (MTRs) in the Czech Republic.

See More - Slovakia
See More - Czech Republic
Source Europe's Information Society

The German telecoms regulator, Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), has notified the European Commission of its plans to impose new regulatory obligations on certain operators for the provision of wholesale termination services, which they provide to other fixed or mobile operators for connecting incoming calls to their networks in Germany. Fixed and mobile termination rates are the prices which operators charge each other for connecting calls to their networks. These rates and the provision of termination services are typically regulated in order to avoid that operators, who have a monopoly for the provision of such services on their networks,
refuse to accept incoming phone calls from another network or set excessive termination rates.

See Press Release
Source: Europe's Information Society

The European Commission's Digital Competitiveness report published shows that Europe's digital sector has made strong progress since 2005: 56% of Europeans now regularly use the internet, 80% of them via a high-speed connection (compared to only one third in 2004), making Europe the world leader in broadband internet. Europe is the world's first truly mobile continent with more mobile subscribers than citizens (a take up rate of 119%). Europe can advance even further as a generation of "digitally savvy" young Europeans becomes a strong market driver for growth and innovation. Building on the potential of the digital economy is essential for Europe's sustainable recovery from the economic crisis.  The Commission has asked the public what future strategy the EU should adopt to make the digital economy run at full speed.

See Press Release
Source : Europa

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today issued its second annual Communications Monitoring Report. The report, which is based on 2008 data, provides information on the various sectors of the telecommunications and broadcasting industries, as well as on how Canada compares internationally.

See more
Source: CTRC

Europe took an important step towards a new generation of mobile services . The Council of Ministers followed the European Parliament in approving a proposal from the European Commission to modernise European legislation - the so-called GSM Directive - on the use of the radio spectrum needed for mobile services. The GSM Directive of 1987 reserves the use of part of the 900MHz spectrum band to GSM (Global System for Mobile or originally Groupe Special Mobile) access technologies such as mobile phones. The updated Directive now allows the 900 MHz frequency band to be used to provide faster, pan-European services such as mobile internet while ensuring the continuation of GSM services. This new flexibility will foster stronger competition on Europe's telecoms market and contribute to a more rapid and more widespread roll-out of wireless broadband services, one of the drivers of economic recovery.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

The Australian Communications and Media Authority today announced a substantial reduction in charges for number applications by telecommunications carriage service providers. The lower charges reflect a considerable reduction in the time and effort to process these applications, following enhancements to the ACMA’s online system for managing numbers.

‘The reduction in charges for number applications is one outcome of an ongoing transformation process the ACMA is undertaking, which involves overhauling many of its legacy IT systems. This particular enhancement has significantly reduced the time required to complete and process applications for numbers,’ said Chris Chapman, Chairman of the ACMA.

See Press Release
Source: Australian Communications and Media Authority - ACMA

A dos meses de haberse puesto en marcha el Registro Nacional de Usuarios de Telefonía Móvil (RENAUT), casi 9 millones de números telefónicos han sido registrados en todo el país. Según los cifras que arroja el RENAUT, durante el período comprendido entre el 10 de abril y el 10 de junio, 8 millones 729 mil 199 usuarios de telefonía móvil han registrado exitosamente su número telefónico en la base de datos que exprofeso ha diseñado la Secretaría de Gobernación (SEGOB).

Los usuarios de telefonía móvil en el país envían un mensaje de texto al 2877 con la palabra “Alta” (punto) seguida del nombre (punto), apellido (punto), así como su fecha de nacimiento, y unos segundos más tarde reciben en su aparato telefónico la confirmación de que su número ha quedado registrado en la base de datos.

See Press Release
Source: COFETEL - Comision Federal de Telecomunicaciones

Iraq's government has approved plans to tender two additional mobile licenses, with one of them reserved for 3G services. The country already has three mobile networks, although there have been complaints from the regulator about poor coverage and service reliability.

"Now we are waiting to start the procedure (for tendering), which we expect to be soon," Iraq's Finance Minister Bayan Jabor told Reuters.

It has been previously reported that Turkcell and Etisalat would be interested in bidding for a mobile license in the country.

Figures from the Mobile World shows that the country ended Q1 '09 with 16.8 million mobile phone users, which represents a population penetration level of 58%.

See Press Release
Source: cellular-news

Commencing on 6 July 2009, the Commission will hold a hearing in Gatineau, Quebec, to do a review of the Internet traffic
management practices of Internet service providers. For more information or to listen to the hearing through live audio feed,
please visit the website here.

See eeference documents:     Telecom Public Notice CRTC 2008-19
See also Telecom Public Notices CRTC 2008-19-1; 2008-19-2  and 2008-19-3.

Source: CRTC

The following publications were added to the ComReg website concerning the consultation related to "Liberalising the future use of 900 MHz & 1800 Mhz Spectrum Bands and Spectrum Release Options"

See related publications:
Consultation - Liberalising the Use of the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz Spectrum Bands
Submissions to Consultation - Liberalising the Use of the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz Spectrum Bands

Source : ComReg

The European Commission today closed three infringement proceedings against Poland after the country took steps at national level to correct the problems and bring Polish law into line with EU telecoms rules. The cases concern the independence of the Polish regulator, consumer contracts, and the obligation for operators to negotiate interconnection. The Commission is still analysing other parts of the amendments made by the Polish government to national telecoms laws.

See more
Source: Europa

The Commission  opened an infringement procedure against Germany because the country's national regulator − the Bundesnetzagentur − did not consult the Commission and other national regulators prior to deciding on new levels of mobile termination rates. Termination rates are wholesale fees charged by operators to connect calls from one network to another operator's network. Contrary to Germany's obligations under EU telecoms rules, the Bundesnetzagentur's final decisions on mobile termination rates were adopted on 31 March 2009 before the Commission and other national regulators had the possibility to comment on the level of these rates. This lack of transparency is a first in the application of EU telecoms rules in the 27 EU Member States. Without prior consultation of other regulators, there is an increased risk that the regulatory approach to termination rates will differ among Member States and distort competition in the EU's single telecoms market. Already today, termination rates, and the methodology used to set them, vary widely across the EU. The Commission has therefore called for them to be better coordinated.

See more
Source: Europa

The location of people calling the single European emergency number 112 from their mobile phones in Lithuania is still not always available to emergency services, despite the European Court of Justice deciding, in its judgement last September that Lithuania is required under EU telecoms rules to make this happen. The European Commission therefore decided today to send a letter of formal notice to Lithuania calling on it to comply with the judgement by ensuring that caller location information is available to emergency services for all mobile calls to 112.

See Press Release
Source: Europe's Information Society

La Comisión del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones (CMT) ha lanzado hoy una consulta pública en la que propone un recorte del 43% en los precios de terminación de los tres principales operadores móviles con red propia y un descenso del 52% para Xfera(que opera bajo la marca Yoigo). La consulta establece una senda de descenso (glide path) de los precios medios máximos de terminación que durará dos años (del 16 de octubre de 2009 hasta el 15 de octubre de 2011).
 
La CMT plantea que al final del nuevo periodo regulatorio el precio mayorista que cobran los operadores de red móvil –Telefónica (Movistar), Vodafone, Orange y sus respectivos operadores móviles virtuales completos (OMV)- por terminar las llamadas en sus respectivas redes sea de 0,04 €/minuto, frente a los 0,07 €/minuto actuales.
 

See Press Release
Source: Comisión del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones (CMT)

Greece's prepaid mobile phone users will now have to register their identities in a bid to tackle illegal immigration and other crime, the communications minister said Tuesday.

Evripidis Stylianidis said widespread anonymous cell-phone ownership made crime-fighting more difficult. "The types of criminals who prefer prepaid phones include drug dealers, immigrant smugglers and blackmailers," Stylianidis said.

Prepaid mobiles were also used in an elaborate illegal wiretapping operation that targeted Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and senior officials in his conservative government during the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

See Press Release
Source: Cellular-news

Ofcom has  published a short guide to telecoms regulation for companies looking to invest in new build super-fast broadband networks. The guide provides a summary of existing telecoms policy for ease of reference and is published alongside a glossary of terms on super-fast broadband.
 
See the document 

Source: OFCOM

A price comparison service that allows consumers to get cheaper mobile phone deals by monitoring their online bills was has been accredited by the UK's telecoms regulator, Ofcom. BillMonitor’s price comparison calculator has been awarded the Ofcom price accreditation scheme logo for meeting the terms of a rigorous independent audit. The audit checks whether the information provided to consumers is accessible, accurate, transparent, comprehensive and up to date.

BillMonitor is the first mobile price comparison service to have their calculator accredited by Ofcom.

See Press Release
Source: cellular-news

The European Commission has set out clear guidance for EU telecoms regulators on the cost-based method to be used when calculating termination rates - the wholesale fees charged by operators to connect the call from another operator's network which are part of everyone's phone bill. The guidance is in the form of a "Recommendation" that national regulators are obliged to take "the utmost account" of. The Recommendation indicates specifically that termination rates at national level should be based only on the real costs that an efficient operator incurs to establish the connection. Eliminating price distortions between phone operators across the EU will lower consumer prices for voice calls within and between Member States, saving business and household customers at least EUR 2 billion in 2009-2012, and help investment and innovation in the entire telecoms sector. Mobile termination rates varied widely in the EU in 2008 from 2.00 euro cents per minute (in Cyprus) to 15 euro cents per minute (in Bulgaria). Mobile termination rates (on average 8.55 euro cents per minute) are also typically 10 times higher than fixed termination rates (on average ranging from 0.57 to 1.13 euro cents per minute). Higher mobile termination rates make it harder for fixed and small mobile operators to compete with large mobile operators. These divergences, and differing regulatory approaches, undermine the Single Market and Europe's competitiveness.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

All three reports on the reform have been voted  by the Parliament with overwhelming majorities: 565 votes in favour of the establishment of the new European Telecoms Body BEREC, 493 votes in favour of the new Directives on e-Privacy and Universal Service and 605 votes in favour of a modern set of rules for ensuring efficient management of radio spectrum and helping to remove regulatory obstacles and inconsistencies in the single telecoms market. The Parliament also voted with 578 votes for the reform of the GSM Directive, which would allow industry savings of up to EUR 1.6 billion. Now the ball is in the court of the Council of Telecoms Ministers to decide whether or not to accept this package of reforms. There was one amendment voted by the Parliament today that was not included in the initial deal agreed between the three EU institutions. This amendment is an important restatement of the fundamental rights of EU citizens. For many, it is of very high symbolic and political value. I call on the Council of Ministers to assess the situation very carefully, also in the light of the importance of the telecoms reform for the sector and for the recovery of our European economy. The Telecoms Council on 12 June should be used for a political discussion on whether agreement on the package is still possible or whether the discussion will have to start again with the new European Parliament in autumn. I will work closely with the Czech Presidency to help ensuring that an agreement on this important reform can still be found in the next weeks."

See press release

Source: Europa

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) announced today that the regulatory guidance on fixed-mobile interconnection charge (FMIC) in favour of the mobile party’s network pay (MPNP) model will be withdrawn as planned on 27 April 2009 when the two-year transition period ends. Interconnection charge for fixed-mobile interconnection will thereafter be settled among fixed and mobile operators by commercial agreements without any ex ante regulatory intervention.

See Press Release
Source : OFTA

The Tanzanian government has reportedly unveiled plans to introduce new legislation to help local law enforcement agencies curb the illegal usage of mobile phones in the country. According to local newspaper This Day, the government hopes to use various state-of-the-art technologies to track down people using cellphones for criminal purposes. Professor Peter Msolla, the Minister for Communication, Science and Technology, revealed the government will soon table a bill in the National Assembly for the establishment of a Central Equipment Identification Register (CEIR).

See Press Release
Source: Telegeography

Outremer Telecom says it tabled an application for a mobile licence for Mauritius with that island’s regulatory authority, the ICTA, for the deployment of GSM and 3G networks by 2010. The application has been tabled by City Call, a Group subsidiary that has been present in fixed telephony in Mauritius since 2005.

The company said that the application for a licence is part of the development strategy implemented by the Group in the Indian Ocean, after it launched its mobile telephony services in Mayotte in December 2006 and in Reunion in April 2007. ICTA’s decision is expected before summer this year.

See Press Release
Source: Balancingact-africa

El Ministerio de Comunicaciones, con el fin de recibir comentarios y observaciones del sector de telecomunicaciones, se permite poner a consideración, durante el periodo comprendido entre el día 15 de abril hasta el 05 de mayo de 2009, los proyectos de Resolución: a). "Por la cual se atribuyen y planifican unas bandas de frecuencias radioeléctricas en el rango comprendido entre 450 a 470 MHz para el desarrollo de servicios de telecomunicaciones que utilicen sistemas para Acceso de Banda Ancha Inalámbrica". b). "Por la cual se reglamenta el otorgamiento de permisos para el uso del espectro radioeléctrico en unas bandas del rango de frecuencias comprendido entre los 450 a 470 MHz y se dictan otras disposiciones".  Ver Resolución

See Press Release
Source: Ministerio de Comunicaciones Colombia

The European Commission asks the German telecoms regulator, Bundesnetzagentur ("BNetzA"), to notify it of Deutsche Telekom's fixed call origination and termination rates. Origination and termination rates are wholesale charges for connecting calls between operators. Until now, BNetzA has only provided general information about the principles it will apply, but did not notify the level of the regulated rates to the Commission and the national regulators of the other 26 EU Member States, as required by the EU telecoms rules' consultation ("Article 7 procedure"). This procedure, provided for by the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers since 2002, aims to ensure more coherent and transparent regulation of telecommunication markets across Europe, thereby avoiding distortions of competition between operators from different Member States. Should BNetzA continue to fail to comply with this obligation, the Commission may open an infringement procedure for non-compliance with EU law (Article 226 of the EC Treaty). In December 2008, the Commission had already requested BNetzA to notify mobile termination rates (see IP/08/1860).

See Press Release
Source: Europa

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is seeking industry comment on draft Temporary Community Broadcasting Licence Guidelines 2009 (the draft guidelines).

‘The intent of the draft guidelines is to provide ACMA with a more efficient, transparent and responsive process for allocating and varying temporary community broadcasting licences,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.

Once finalised, the draft guidelines will replace the current Guide to the Allocation of Temporary Community Broadcasting Licences (Radio) published in December 2007 (the current guidelines).

See Press Release
Source: ACMA - Australian Communications and Media Authority

The Federal Communications Commission took the first step Wednesday in developing a comprehensive plan to give all Americans high-speed Internet access.

At a meeting in Washington, the commission put out a request for comments from the public and industry. The FCC will assemble its plan and present it to Congress by next February, as ordered in the economic stimulus package passed this year.

During the Bush administration, Democrats and consumer advocates called on the government to take a more hands-on approach to speed adoption of broadband, pointing to the higher uptake and Internet speeds available in some other countries.

See Press Release
Source: cellular-news

In order to meet growing demand for broadband services, ComReg proposed in its Consultation Document 08/99 to make an additional 90 MHz of spectrum in the 3600 – 3800 MHz part of the band available for the provision of FWALA services. This additional spectrum will enable both new and existing FWALA operators to  meet the needs of both existing and prospective users of broadband services. ComReg also proposed making Channel E spectrum available in restricted areas of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford.

More information is available in: Response to Consultation - FWALA licensing in the 3400-3800 MHz band: Further release of spectrum

Source: Comreg

The Review of BT Network Charge Controls proposes a range of new controls for some wholesale charges paid by other Communication Providers for use of BT’s network. Network Charge Controls protect BT’s wholesale customers from excessive pricing for these services, and provide BT with incentives for efficiency and cost reduction in their provision. Ofcom is proposing new network charge controls for the next four years. The consultation can be found here. 
 
The Review of the Fixed Narrowband Services Retail Markets relates to telephone lines and voice calls made by consumers and businesses. Ofcom proposes to deregulate BT’s retail products  in those markets where Ofcom has found healthy competition. This competition is a result of Ofcom opening up the market in 2005 with the creation of Openreach and improved wholesale products like Local Loop Unbundling and Wholesale Line Rental. Today’s proposals seek to further competition in the voice market. For the first time BT will be able to offer telephone lines and calls as part of a bundle of other services (such as broadband or Pay-TV) like other communications providers do at the moment. The consultation can be found here. 

In the Review of the Fixed Narrowband Services Wholesale Markets, Ofcom proposes to deregulate certain specific BT wholesale products where Ofcom considers the market is now competitive. Ofcom proposes to keep regulation in other wholesale areas where it supports healthy competition in the retail market. The consultation can be found here.

Source: OFCOM
 

The European Commission has welcomed the Romanian telecoms regulator's move to bring its regulation of mobile termination rates – wholesale charges operators pay each other for connecting calls on their networks – in line with the forthcoming Commission Recommendation. In the meantime, the Commission also called on the regulator to align the mobile termination rates charged by the third and fourth mobile operators in Romania with those allowed for the two largest operators. The Commission's letter acknowledged the reasonably low level of rates for the two largest operators (5.03 eurocents per minute) and said that in the absence of objective cost differences, this interim rate should also be applied to the other operators as soon as possible. As part of the cost of a call between customers of different operators, termination rates are included in everyone's phone bill and therefore eventually paid by the calling consumer.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released the recommendations on “Lock-in period for Promoter’s Equity and other conditionalities for Unified Access Service Licensees (UASL)”.

The Telecom sector in today’s India is intensely competitive with 281 Access service licensees. Of these, 121 UAS licenses were awarded in January, 2008. The total number of telephone connections stood at 400.05 million at the end of January, 2009. Despite the phenomenal growth, the overall tele-density is 34.50% and the rural tele-density is only 13.13%. Clearly, there is tremendous scope for further expansion of network requiring further infusion of capital. With the growth being contributed mainly by mobile telephones, availability and efficient utilization of spectrum, which is a scarce national resource, assumes importance. Any exploitation for undue gains either in terms of price of the spectrum or its framework for usage under a telecom license should not be allowed as it would defeat the goals of competition and would also be counterproductive for the industry as a whole.

See Press Release
Source: TRAI

On 6 October 2008, Eircom Limited (‘Eircom’) launched promotional “TalkTime” bundles that included free calls to Meteor.   Since that launch, the Commission for Communications Regulation (‘ComReg’) has been monitoring average actual usage, average total revenue and average total cost of the TalkTime bundles to ensure that Eircom is meeting its regulatory obligations1.  Based on ComReg’s review of the actual data provided by Eircom, ComReg has today issued a notice of non-compliance to Eircom in relation to its obligation not to unreasonably bundle fixed retail narrowband access, that is, retail line rental, with other retail services.  The notification of non-compliance issued relates to the 1MB and 3MB Family TalkTime bundles only.  The annex includes details of the analysis carried out by ComReg.  ComReg has reserved its position in relation to the other promotional bundles that include free calls to Meteor and will continue to review actual data to ensure that Eircom is meeting its regulatory obligations. Eircom has one month either to respond to the notification of non-compliance issued or to remedy the non-compliance.

See Notice and documents
Source: Comreg
 

Ofcom today published a further consultation on applying spectrum liberalisation and trading to the mobile sector. This consultation is about the future of the spectrum currently used to provide 2G and 3G mobile services in the UK – the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.1GHz spectrum bands. In particular we are consulting on how we should implement a proposed European Directive and a draft Radio Spectrum Decision that would require the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands to be made available for UMTS (3G) as well as GSM (2G) technologies.

The consultation can be found here
Source: OFCOM

Canada  announced the upcoming launch of the redesigned CRTC Web site thereby making changes to better meet the needs of
visitors to crtc.gc.ca and to meet the new standards for federal government Websites. Visit  online for more information on the CRTC Web site revitalization.

The Romanian government's decision in 2008 first to remove the President of the national telecoms regulator and then, after a court ruling suspending this decision, to restructure and rename this authority represents, in the view of the European Commission, a serious violation of the regulator's independence. Following repeated warnings, the Commission today opened an infringement proceeding against Romania by sending a letter of formal notice under Article 226 of the EC Treaty to the Romanian government. EU Telecoms Commissioner Reding spoke yesterday morning on the phone with the recently appointed Romanian Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Mr. Gabriel Sandu, - who had inherited this issue from the previous government - to discuss how the current illegality of the legislation in Romania could be changed in conformity with the letter and the spirit of EU law.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

In a letter published today, the Commission calls on the Bulgarian telecoms regulator, the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC), to take action to further reduce mobile termination rates that operators charge to connect the call of another operator's customer. Termination rates are an important cost element when consumers call a phone connected to another network. They are included in everyone's phone bill and eventually paid by the calling customer. In 2008, mobile termination rates in Bulgaria were, with 15.09 eurocent/minute, the highest in the EU (EU average: 8.7 eurocent/minute). The Commission also asks CRC not to discriminate when setting the level of termination rates between fixed and mobile networks and to apply similar termination rates for mobile calls originating from other mobile and fixed networks.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

The European Commission has informed the Finnish telecoms regulator, Viestintävirasto or FICORA (Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority), of its serious doubts over the compatibility with EU law of its draft regulatory measures on the Finnish wholesale broadband access market. Finland's regulator has not provided enough evidence to justify the deregulation of access to the incumbent operators' broadband networks it proposes, namely that certain geographic markets ready for deregulation show different competitive conditions from the rest of the country. The Commission now has until 5 March 2009 to decide whether the regulator can adopt its proposed measures. The regulator may not adopt the measures until the Commission approves them.

See Press release
Source: Europa

In a move that has shades of what happened to the mobile operators in Benin when a new Government came to power, Ghana’s new Government has decided that it will re-open the terms of the contract made under the previous Government with Vodafone International.

This is the worst kind of nightmare for an international investor: you’ve paid the price, you’re in the hole but there’s no control over the cost of the political risk incurred. For the new Government, it risk’s throwing away Ghana’s reputation as one of the most liberal telecoms environments in the sub-region.

The Minister designate for Communications, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu has hinted that his ministry would review the sale of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone International. He said though he would have to contact the Presidency for approval before his Ministry would embark on such a move, he was hopeful that the government would support the idea.

See Press Release
Source: Balancingact-africa

The Telecommunications Authority (“TA”) first issued a Statement on “Interconnection and Related Competition Issues Statement No. 7 –
‘Carrier-to-Carrier Charging Principles’” (“Statement No. 7”)1 on 10 June 1995 to provide guidance on carrier-to-carrier charging principles for interconnection between fixed telecommunications network services (“FTNS”) operators that the TA will rely on in the initial phases of competition in the local FTNS market in making a determination under section 36A of the Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap. 106) (“the Ordinance”).  The Statement No. 7 was subsequently revised on 18 November 1997 (“Statement No. 7 (First Revision)”) and on 18 March 2002 (“Statement No. 7 (Second Revision)”) to reflect the developing competitive environment in Hong Kong and to address the latest interconnection issues that had arisen since the introduction of competition in the local FTNS market in 1995.  This consultation paper seeks views and comments on the TA’s proposal of updating the Statement No. 7 (Second Revision) as a consequence of the developments in the regulatory environment for local fixed telecommunications services that have taken place since March 2002.
See document
Source: OFTA

20090116.pdf (191,25 KB)

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today announced that it has denied the Canadian Association of Internet Providers’ (CAIP) request that Bell Canada cease the traffic-shaping practices it has adopted for its wholesale Gateway Access Service. However, in the future, Bell Canada will be required to notify its wholesale customers at least 30 days in advance of making changes that impact on the performance of its Gateway Access Service.

See Press Release
Source: CRTC

In a letter dated 13 November 2008 the Commission has informed the Slovenian telecom watchdog, APEK, that at this stage it has serious doubts as to the finding of joint dominance in the Slovenian mobile access and call origination market. During the following two months the Commission will call for and assess further market data from APEK and market players. APEK believes that two Slovenian operators, i.e. Mobitel and Si.mobil jointly possess a dominant position in the Slovenian wholesale mobile market which is used to prevent market entry of other mobile operators by way of access to existing mobile networks. The reason for such common interest to keep the market closed is that further competition in the downstream retail mobile market could lead to price cuts and a decrease in profits for the two established operators. On the basis of such assessment, APEK proposes to impose access obligations in the form of national roaming agreements on Mobitel and Si.mobil. The Commission underlines in its serious doubts letter sent on 13 November that a finding of joint dominance of two operators requires that a number of criteria are met, i.a. that competitive checks from other sources are not effective, that both operators pursue a common policy and that they can retaliate if one of them should deviate from the joint policy. There are already four mobile network operators and two service providers in the Slovenian mobile market. Two network operators provide nationwide services using Mobitel's network. At this stage, APEK provided unclear and ambiguous information concerning the stability of the alleged 'collusive equilibrium' between the two largest operators. The so-called "Phase II" two-month investigation launched last Thursday allows APEK to provide additional market data and clarify the outstanding issues which the Commission identified as necessary conditions to make any joint dominance story credible.

Press Release
Source: Europa

Investigation into Alleged Anti-Competitive and / or Misleading or Deceptive Conduct by Pacnet Internet (HK) Limited, Hutchison Global Communications Limited, and PCCW-HKT Telephone Limited.

The Complainant is a prominent property and facilities management services company which maintains a presence at over 130 separate locations throughout Hong Kong.  It relies on outside telecommunications services to connect its operations at these locations with its company headquarters. In November 2007, when the company switched service provider, problems in the changeover surfaced, resulting in a large number of the remote locations not having broadband connection to central office on the due date.  The company complained that this was the result of various transgressions by the telecommunications service providers involved.

See Press Release

T23_08.pdf (110,19 KB)

Source: OFTA

El acuerdo aprobado por el Consejo de Ministros de Telecomunicaciones de la Unión Europea para el nuevo marco regulador del sector supone para el Gobierno español un éxito en tanto que se alcanzan los objetivos marcados por el Ejecutivo. El Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio ha tenido una activa participación en la negociación y configuración del “paquete telecom”. La decisión del Consejo debe, no obstante, volver al Parlamento antes de su aprobación definitiva que está prevista para la primavera de 2009.

Puntos principales del acuerdo

1.- Directiva de mejor regulación (modifica las directivas Marco, autorizaciones y acceso)

2.- Espectro: Se incorpora el principio de flexibilidad de la gestión del espectro a través de la inclusión de :
neutralidad tecnológica
neutralidad de servicios
mercado secundario
la introducción de estos principios se hará de forma paulatina

See Press Release
Source: Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio

Poland just announced the launch of consultations on the tender of 18 frequency reservations in the range of 2010 – 2025 MHz and 2500 – 2690 MHz, in the area of the entire country, dedicated for the provision of services in broadband wireless access networks in the mobile service.

See Press Release
Source: UKE

The European Commission is publishing new legislative texts on the EU Telecoms Reform package to take account of the European Parliament vote of 24 September 2008 and the ongoing discussions in the Council. In November 2007, the Commission made proposals for the reform of the EU Telecoms rules, designed to create a Single EU Telecoms Market with improved rights for consumers and businesses, more competition and investment to boost the take-up of cross-border services and wireless high-speed broadband for all (IP/07/1677). The new texts presented by the Commission today will be discussed in the Council of Telecoms Ministers on 27 November. At the heart of the compromise texts is a new, small and independent office for Europe's telecoms regulators that should help the Commission to bring about more consistency to regulatory measures on Europe's telecoms markets. The new regulatory framework is expected to become law in all 27 EU Member States by 2010.

See Press release and documents
Source: Europa

The European Commission has launched a public consultation “Towards a Strengthened Network and Information Security Policy in Europe”. It will help to gather information from as many sources as possible on the possible objectives of such a policy at EU level and on the means of achieving them. The consultation is accessible online until 9 January 2009.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

Ofcom’s investigation into Phones 4U has identified evidence that Phones 4U has engaged in conduct which Ofcom considers breaches consumer protection legislation and is likely to harm the collective interests of consumers, specifically by:

• operating a policy which restricts or excludes consumers’ rights and remedies under the Sale of Goods Act 1979, including not providing the option of a replacement handset after 28 days and failing to effect a repair within a reasonable time and thereby causing significant inconvenience to consumers;
• using terms contained in their handset return policy that are unfair and contrary to the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 and the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999;
• using terms contained in their chequeback scheme that are unfair and contrary to the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 and the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999; and
• making misleading, false or deceptive representations or omissions to consumers in breach of the Control of Misleading Advertising Regulations 1988.

See Press Release
Source: OFCOM

The Digital Migration Pilot project has been officially launched on behalf of the Minister of Communication, Dr Benjamin Aggrey Ntim by the Chief Director of the Ministry. This took place at the Kofi Annan ICT Centre in Accra.

Mr. Kwaku Ofosu-Adarkwa Chief Director of the Ministry of Communications who read the statement on behalf of the minster said the launch of a Pilot Project on the migration to Digital Broadcasting is very timely because the forum is going to serve as a platform to identify practical challenges that lie ahead of Ghana. Adding that the meeting is a step forward to monitor what the technical advantages and challenges will be like from a practical point of view.

He stressed on the need to continue to plan and analyse the implications of the migration, bearing in mind that broadcasting services should reach the populace at affordable cost and impact positively on their lives. The Minister for Communication then called on the Ministry of Communications to facilitate an all inclusive national migration committee to address the task ahead.

See Press Release
Source: Ministry of Communications of Ghana

According to Balancing Act, Senegal's government has threatened to cut off Tigo’s 1.8 million customers if its licence renegotiation with the company is not settled in the way it wants. Tigo (Sentel GSM) is a subsidiary of Millicom International Cellular. Sentel's twenty year license was granted in 1998, before the enactment in 2002 of Senegal's Telecommunications Act.  The current Senegalese government has acknowledged the validity of Sentel's license. However it has  requested that Sentel renegotiate the terms of the license.

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Source: Balancing Act

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority ("OFTA") issued today ( 31 October 2008 ) a consultation paper to solicit public views on various issues in connection with the voluntary implementation of Fixed Mobile Number Portability ("FMNP").

Under the present arrangement, subscribers to the service provided by one fixed network operator may port their numbers to another fixed network operator. Likewise, subscribers to the service provided by one mobile network operator may port their numbers to another mobile network operator. However, cross platform number portability between fixed and mobile networks, commonly known as FMNP, is not yet available in Hong Kong . The TA invites public views on the proposed voluntary implementation of FMNP, the need for the TA to set out the necessary basic guiding principles in order to ensure an orderly implementation of voluntary FMNP, and other associated issues, including the need to identify the asymmetrical regulatory arrangements which currently apply to fixed and mobile services and which may impede the implementation of FMNP.

A copy of the consultation paper as well as the consumer survey report can be downloaded from the following hyperlinks at OFTA's website.

Source: OFTA

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today introduced new policies to prepare the Canadian broadcasting industry for the transition to a fully digital environment. In developing these policies, the Commission has simplified its regulation in order to foster a more coherent and well-calibrated broadcasting system. The CRTC has developed forward-looking policies that will give the broadcasting system added flexibility while retaining the necessary regulations to achieve the objectives of the Broadcasting Act. The majority of the changes will come into effect on August 31, 2011. This date coincides with the end of analog over-the-air broadcasting in Canada and will give the industry time to adapt.

See Press Release
Source: CRTC

The lack of effective competition and high tariffs in the Belgian markets for fixed voice calls could result from an ineffective implementation of telecoms regulation. Measures taken by the Belgian telecoms regulator, the 'Institut Belge des services postaux et des télécommunications' (BIPT), have not yet led to competitive prices for fixed line calls. In a letter made public today, the European Commission invites BIPT to ensure that wholesale remedies are properly enforced and asks for a new market analysis to be carried out within one year. BIPT should also revise its price control obligation imposed on Belgacom, the telecoms incumbent, to allow Belgian customers to make cheaper calls as soon as possible.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

In today's round of telecoms infringement proceedings, the European Commission closed the case against France over the designation of universal service providers, following changes to French rules. EU rules under the Universal Service Directive provide a safety net guaranteeing a minimum level of services such as connection to a telephone network and basic internet access that fill societal needs not delivered by the market. The Commission launched a case against France in 2005 because its procedure for designating providers of the universal service was only open to operators offering nationwide services. EU rules say that the process should not discriminate against any operator interested in providing the service only in parts of a country. France amended its rules after the European Court of Justice ruled in favour of the Commission in June 2008. These amendments will ensure that no telecoms provider interested in providing the universal service in parts of the country will be excluded from a designation process in advance.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) launched a proceeding to gain a better understanding of broadcasting in the new media environment. The proceeding will include a public hearing starting on February 17, 2009, in Gatineau, Que. In 1999, the Commission exempted from regulation services that distribute broadcasting content over the Internet. In 2007, it also exempted broadcasting services that are received through cellphones and other mobile devices. Today, high-speed Internet access has been adopted by most Canadians, new technologies and applications are offering high-quality broadcasting content, and Canadians are spending more time accessing this type of content over the Internet and mobile devices. With this proceeding, the Commission wishes to further examine the role of broadcasting in the current new media environment, and what role this environment can be expected to play in the Canadian broadcasting system in the future.See Press Release and documents

Source: CRTC

Ofcom  published a consultation reviewing the 070 personal numbering range including proposals to support current enforcement action being carried out by PhonepayPlus in relation to scams on the 070 range and requiring communications providers to publish their tariffs for calls to 070 numbers more prominently and make them easier for consumers to understand.
 
The consultation can be found here.
Source: OFCOM
 

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is proposing to permit the possession and installation of in-flight mobile phone systems by Australian airlines for domestic and international services.

'Australia led the world when it trialled in-flight GSM mobile phone services in 2007,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman. ‘There is growing recognition by regulators worldwide that in-flight mobile phone services can be deployed without interference to existing telecommunications services.’

See Press Release
Source: Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)

La Comisión de Regulación de Telecomunicaciones (CRT) presenta al sector la propuesta regulatoria de modificación del artículo 65 de la Resolución 1732 de 2007, relativo a las reglas para el envío de SMS y MMS. Asimismo se publica el documento soporte que acompaña la propuesta contemplada en el proyecto de resolución. Se convoca la participación de operadores, entidades, usuarios y público en general dentro del proyecto.

See Press Release
Source: Comisión de Regulación de Telecomunicaciones (CRT), Colombia

In today’s Europe, citizens are free to work in and re-locate to any EU Member State and companies carry out business across the EU. When doing so, they need to communicate with administrations of other Member States. Member States in turn need to communicate with each other to serve the citizens and businesses in the best possible way. To avoid the creation of electronic barriers (e-barriers) between European administrations, the Member States and the Commission need to strengthen their efforts to ensure barrier-free communication within the internal market. In response to the need for coordination and cooperation at EU level, the ISA programme proposes to establish and promote commonly agreed solutions to avoid e-barriers at national borders. Over the period 2010-2015, the ISA programme aims to support and promote cooperation between European public administrations. ISA focuses on providing cross-border solutions for public administrations by making available common frameworks, common services and generic tools and promoting reuse as well as exchange of experience and good practices.

ISA is the follow-on programme to the IDABC programme (interoperable delivery of pan-European e-government services to administrations, businesses and citizens) which comes to an end in December 2009. The IDABC programme was itself launched in January 2005 as the successor of the IDA programme “interchange of data between administrations”. The ISA programme will be based on the achievements of the IDA and IDABC programmes and will, as its predecessors, contribute to the further development and implementation of the European e-government strategy.

See Press release

Source: Europa

TRAI’s Regulation on Unsolicited Commercial Call completes one year of effective operation. 100 million telephone numbers cross checked by Telemarketers with NDNC before calling on 25th September 2008.

The National Do Not Call Registry (NDNC) is a data base of telephone numbers of those subscribers who do not want to receive Unsolicited Commercial Calls. It was set up under the “Telecom Unsolicited Commercial Communications Regulations, 2007” issued by TRAI and has come into operation w.e.f 12th October 2007. All the registered telemarketers before making marketing calls are required to submit / upload the list of telephone numbers which they want to call for telemarketing purpose to the NDNC. The NDNC takes out (delete) the telephone number of subscribers who are already registered with NDNC from this list and returns the clean list to the telemarketer for calling. Presently, there are 19,163 telemarketers registered with Department of Telecommunications.

See Press Release
Source: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

La Comisión del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones (CMT) ha aprobado una propuesta de regulación para los servicios mayoristas de banda ancha y las redes físicas de telecomunicaciones, que incluyen la red de cobre y los despliegues de fibra óptica o redes de nueva generación. Esta propuesta será enviada a Bruselas, la Comisión Nacional de Competencia, el Gobierno y al conjunto del sector, que tendrán un mes para presentar comentarios y alegaciones antes de que la CMT tenga lista la regulación definitiva, prevista para diciembre de 2008.

See Press Release
Source: Comisión del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones (CMT)

New technology applications will need ubiquitous Internet coverage. The Internet of Things means that wireless interaction between machines, vehicles, appliances, sensors and many other devices will take place using the Internet. It already makes electronic travel cards possible, and will allow mobile devices to exchange information to pay for things or get information from billboards. It is predicted that such technology will be in more than one billion phones by 2015.

The Commission Communication adopted today said that the EU should stimulate investment in next generation broadband access, for example strengthening the involvement of local authorities who may facilitate the access to ducts (or digging of new ones) for faster broadband fibre cables during civil works, keep the Internet open to competition, prevent unfair restrictions in consumers' choice, safeguard consumer confidence in using the Internet and fund research in the Internet of the future. The Communication is accompanied by a new Broadband Performance Index that compares competition, coverage, speed and quality of Internet access across Europe. The index shows that Sweden and the Netherlands are clear leaders in the EU, thanks to a competition-friendly environment and skilled citizens and businesses that can use advanced services.

See Commission Communication on Future networks and the Internet 

See public consultation on the Internet of Things

Source: Europa

Los presidentes de los organismos reguladores de América Latina eligieron al Organismo Supervisor de la Inversión Privada en Telecomunicaciones (OSIPTEL), para que lidere en el año 2010 a las entidades regulatorias de América Latina que están agrupadas en Regulatel.

Por otro lado, el OSIPTEL y los miembros de Regulatel se han propuesto reducir las tarifas del roaming internacional entre los países de América del Sur, la cual permitirá que el público que viaje al interior de nuestros países lleve su equipo móvil y realice sus llamadas a un precio mucho más bajo del que se paga actualmente.

See Press Release
Source: OSIPTEL

Ofcom published today further consultation documents as part of its Pay TV market investigation and its consideration of the proposal from BSkyB/Arqiva for a new Pay TV service called “Picnic” on digital terrestrial TV.
 
The Pay TV consultation document can be found here
The consultation on “Picnic” can be found here
 
Source: OFCOM

The basic principle of the Commission's draft Recommendation on regulatory strategy to promote high-speed Next Generation Access networks in Europe sets out that national regulatory authorities should provide access to the networks of dominant operators at the lowest possible level. In particular, they should mandate access to the ducts of the dominant operators allowing competitors to roll out their own fibre. However NRAs should also impose further physical access obligations (access to unlit fibre) beyond access to ducts where ducts are not available or the population density is too low for a sustainable business model. Access to active elements such as "bitstream" shall be maintained provided lower level remedies do not sufficiently address distortions of competition. The draft Recommendation provides also a common approach to ensure non-discriminatory access, as well as a methodology for calculating a proper rate of return, including a risk premium. The Commission believes that for NGA, rates of return should be derived in the light of the risks associated with this kind of investment, bearing in mind that the nominal pre-tax weighted average cost of capital for fixed and mobile operators has been roughly 8 to 12% in recent years. Broadband access is currently regulated by national regulators. The objective of the Commission's Recommendation will be to foster the application of consistent access remedies on dominant NGA operators. It builds on the European Regulators Group ("ERG") opinion on regulatory principles of NGA submitted to the Commission on 1 October 2007.

The Commission's public consultation document can be found here. 
The work of the ERG on NGA is available here  and here. 

Source: Europa

Ofcom has today published a joint response with the UK Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform to the European Commission draft Recommendation on the Regulatory Treatment of Fixed and Mobile Termination Rates in the EU consultation. The response can be found at here.  A technical document supporting the response can be found at here.

Source: OFCOM
 

The European Parliament will debate, in plenary session, the so-called EU Telecoms Reform. On 13 November 2007, the European Commission had proposed to the European Parliament and the Council of Telecoms Ministers to reform the EU Telecoms rules (in place since 2003) to reinforce competition and investment and to create a Single Telecoms Market in the EU with innovative cross-border services and wireless high-speed broadband for all. Following an intense debate and many hearings, the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) and the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) voted on amendments on 7 July (MEMO/08/491). The debate in the European Parliament's plenary with its 785 members is expected to pave the way for a vote on the Commission's entire EU Telecoms reform proposals in first reading on 23 September. Depending on the outcome of the vote and the discussions in the Council of Telecoms Ministers of 27 November, a political agreement on the final legislative texts could be achieved between the three institutions by the end of the year. The new regulatory framework would then become the law in all 27 EU Member States by 2010.

Source: Europa

In March 2008 Ofcom published a statement allowing the use of mobile phones on aircraft. Following this, Ofcom has today published a consultation on the draft regulations to make mobile phones licence-exempt when connected to base stations on aircraft. The consultation which closes on 29 August 2008 can be found here. The statement can be found here. 

Source: OFCOM
 

The Commission will send Spain a reasoned opinion (the second stage of an infringement proceeding and the last before the case is submitted to the European Court of Justice) on its mechanism for the designation and financing of providers of universal service. Under EU Telecoms rules, Member States must make sure that no provider is automatically excluded when designating the providers of universal service. They can also grant these universal service providers compensation for offering these services upon their request and if Member States find that this represents an unfair burden to providers. Spain has to still take legislative measures to settle these issues and has not launched a new designation procedure yet. A letter of formal notice had been sent to Spain in June 2007 (IP/07/888), but with no avail. The Commission also decided to refer Poland and Cyprus to the European Court of Justice. In two other cases, positive developments have led to today's decisions to close two pending infringement proceedings. Following adoption of new legislation, the European Commission has decided to close the pending case against Latvia for incomplete transposition of the Article 7 notification mechanism. The Commission also could close a case against Finland on "must carry" rules (IP/06/948). A detailed overview of the state of infringement proceedings is available on the implementation and enforcement website of DG Information Society and Media. 

See Press Release
Source: Europa

Ofcom published  its fifth annual report on trends and developments in the UK’s £51bn communications market. The Communications Market Report 2008 highlights the facts that consumers are spending more time using communications services than ever before, but paying less for them.
 
The report can be found here.
 
An interactive executive summary can be found here.

Source: Ofcom
 

A competition for providers of communication services via satellite across Europe has been launched today by the European Commission. Satellite operators will for the first time be able to offer services such as high speed data, mobile TV, disaster relief and remote medical services under a single European selection procedure instead of under 27 different national systems. This is made possible by a new EU decision on mobile satellite services that entered into force this July. Mobile satellite systems use radio spectrum to provide services between a mobile earth station and one or more stations either in space or on the ground at fixed locations. They have the capability to cover a large territory and reach areas where such services were economically unviable before. The new European selection procedure could allow companies to offer innovative wireless services throughout Europe over a specifically reserved spectrum as of 2009.

See Press Release
Source: EUROPA

The 2.5 billion text messages sent every year by roaming customers in the EU cost over 10 times more than domestic short messages (SMS), show figures released today by the European Commission. The average cost of a roaming text message in the EU between October 2007 and March 2008 was EUR 0.29 according to the European Regulators' Group (ERG), but can be as high as EUR 0.80 for travellers from Belgium. Calls on the industry for self-regulation and voluntary reductions of roaming prices for text messages have not been answered. The Commission will therefore start working on measures to ensure that consumers benefit from a truly single market for mobile text services. The Commission will also seek to put an end to "bill shocks" that can hit roaming customers using a mobile connection to surf the Internet. New measures could be proposed by the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council in early autumn.

See Press Release
Source: Europa
See also: FAQs - EU Roaming Regulation: Text Messages & Data Services

Ofcom has today published recommendations to the Mobile Broadband Group (MBG) to consider in its review of the UK Code of Practice for the self-regulation of new forms of content on mobiles. The Code was published by MBG in 2004 to restrict mobile access to adult content for anyone who could not verify that they were over 18.  The Code applies to content provided directly by the mobile operator, commercial content provided by third-party providers and content accessed on the internet. The industry has made a significant investment in this initiative. Ofcom has found that overall the Code is effective in restricting young people’s access to inappropriate content and is a good example of industry self-regulation. It has also made recommendations for MBG to consider in its review.

The full review can be found here.
The Mobile Broadband Group consultation can be found here.

Source: OFCOM

IN line with its objective to further liberalize the market, the Government of Rwanda has decided to select a third national operator through a public tender process. The exclusivity period enjoyed by Rwandatel and MTN Rwandacel was due to expire end of June 2008. The third operator will be issued with and have both fixed and mobile licences for a duration of 15 years. The closing date for submission of technical and financial bids is 30 September 2008. More information on the bidding process can be found on the website of the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA).

Source: Rura

The European Commission  adopted two initiatives in the area of copyright. First, the Commission proposes to align the copyright term for performers with that applicable to authors, in this way bridging the income gap that performers face toward the end of their lives. Secondly, the Commission proposes to fully harmonise the copyright term that applies to co-written musical compositions. In parallel, the Commission also adopted a Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy. The consultation document focuses on topics that appear relevant for the development of a modern economy, driven by the rapid dissemination of knowledge and information. Both of these initiatives comprise a unique mix of social, economic and cultural measures aimed at maintaining Europe as a prime location for cultural creators in the entertainment and knowledge sectors.

See press release
Source: Europa

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced that licence fees for rural landline services will be waived, Telecom Tiger reports. It is expected that the ruling could save providers up to INR2 billion (USD46.7 million) per year, and it is hoped may encourage private players to consider investment in rural areas. According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database, the Ministry of Communications (MoC) has committed to increasing rural teledensity to 4% by 2010.

See Press Release
Source: TeleGeography

VoIP is a technology for the delivery of voice services using existing internet infrastructure and services. There are no laws or rules that prohibit the use of such technology within the State of Qatar.

The Telecommunications Law 34 of 2006 does, however, make it illegal for any person to provide telecommunications services to the public for a direct or indirect fee without a license issued by ictQATAR for that purpose.

Currently the only two entities licensed by ictQATAR to provide such voice services to the public in Qatar are Qatar Telecom (QTel) Q.S.C. and Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C.

See Press Release
Source: ICT Qatar

http://ec.europa.eu/idabc/en/document/7649

The European Commission, Directorate General for Informatics (IDABC), organised a special event aiming to present and inform on the new version of the European Interoperability Framework. This EIF Info Day took place on 25 June 2008 in Brussels. The European Interoperability Framework (EIF) supports the European Union's strategy of providing user-centred eGovernment services by facilitating, at a pan-European level, the interoperability of services and systems between public administrations, as well as between administrations and the public (citizens, businesses). The EIF defines the general rules and principles for collaboration on interoperability between Member States and European Institutions. It is the highest ranking paper among the IDABC interoperability documents. The new EIF will represent an official Commission position with the publication of a Communication from the Commission to the Council and to the Parliament. IDABC is currently revising the European Interoperabilty Framework (EIF). A document is now available for external comments till the 22nd of September 2008.

See document
Source: Europa

According to Balancing Act, Guinea will soon have a new telecommunication regulation agency.

See Article

Source Balancing Act

Ofcom published a document outlining its role in furthering the interests of citizens. The discussion paper, Citizens, Communications and Convergence, details how Ofcom serves citizens' interests by ensuring that people have access to the communications services, content and skills needed to participate in society. Please send your comments to alistair.bridge@ofcom.org.uk by 8 October 2008. The paper can be found here.
 
Also, Ofcom thinks that while  current regulation of ADR and complaints handling procedures is successful in many respects, it has identified potential problems around access to ADR. It has also found evidence of general levels of dissatisfaction with CPs’ complaints handling procedures. In this Consultation Document OFCOM considers a number of different options to address these issues.To ensure that the interests of citizens and consumers are advanced, it is crucial that OFCOM considers the impact of any proposed regulation on all relevant stakeholders. OFCOM is committed to a thorough and open consultation and is inviting comments on proposals and on other options by 4 October 2008.
See http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/alt_dis_res/

Source: OFCOM

Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) and the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) of the European Parliament voted on the European Commission's proposals to reform the EU Telecom rules. Even though the final view of the European Parliament will only be known once the Plenary has voted on the Commission proposal - which is expected to take place on 3 September 2008 - the votes in ITRE and IMCO are important steps towards shaping the final legislative texts to be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

January 2008, the Telecommunications Authority (“TA”) published a consultation paper entitled “Assignment of the Available Radio Spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz Bands” to seek views and comments from the industry and interested parties on the assignment  of the available radio spectrum. After careful consideration of the submissions, the TA draws conclusions. 

 

ta20080704ex.pdf (8,84 KB)

Source: OFTA

Aiming to spur competition among operators and lower phone charges for European consumers, the Commission started on 26 June a public consultation on the future regulation of "voice call termination rates" in the EU based on a draft Commission Recommendation on termination rates. Voice call termination rates are the wholesale tariffs charged by the operator of a customer receiving a phone call to the operator of the caller's network. Included in everyone's phone bill, and therefore eventually paid by the consumer, these tariffs are determined by the intervention of national telecoms regulators. At the moment the decisions of the national telecoms regulators result in very divergent rates across the EU. Mobile termination rates range from EUR 0.02/min (in Cyprus) to over EUR 0.18/min (in Bulgaria) and are 9 times higher than fixed line termination rates (on average EUR 0.0057/min for local call termination). This distorts competition between operators from different countries and between fixed line and mobile phone operators. The public consultation on this proposal will be open until 3 September 2008.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

The Commission adopted on 13 June, in line with the rules of the EU's regulatory framework for electronic communications of 2002, a decision on the harmonisation of the 2500-2690 MHz frequency band for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services in the Community. With Member States planning to issue licenses starting in 2008, this decision ensures coherent technical conditions within the Community for the provision of services such as mobile Internet access.

See Press Release
Source: EUROPA

Announcement of the President of the Office of Electronic Communications dated 13 June 2008 on a tender for two exclusive frequency licences in the bands of 880 - 890 MHz / 925 - 935 MHz in the entire country, to be used in public telecommunication network. Here you can find the Announcement and Tender Documentation.

Source: UKE

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today approved, subject to certain conditions, Remstar Diffusion inc.'s (Remstar) acquisition of the TQS Network and television stations in Montreal, Quebec, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke and Saguenay. The Commission has also renewed the licences of these stations until 2015, but will re-examine the programming commitments after three years.

See Press Release
Source : CRTC

Ofcom today published its Annual Report for 2007/8. The full report is available here. 

Source: Ofcom
 

Relevant, reliable and timely regulatory financial information is fundamental to the effective economic regulation of the electronic communications sector. Fit for purpose financial reporting forms an essential element of the regulatory framework. Ofcom requires regulatory financial information in order to monitor and enforce various obligations that are placed on dominant providers in markets where they are found to have significant market power (“ SMP ”). The regulatory financial reporting regime also demonstrates to the industry that certain ex-ante obligations are being effectively monitored and enforced. The current regulatory financial reporting regime for British Telecommunications plc (BT) has evolved over time in response to ongoing changes in the regulatory, technological and competitive environment, including:

• changes in the regulatory framework (following Ofcom’s strategic review of the telecommunications sector);
• structural changes in the way BT transacts with itself and its competitors (by way of the ongoing implementation of undertakings by BT accepted by Ofcom in lieu of a reference under the Enterprise Act and the creation of Openreach);
• technological changes to the nature of BT’s business, including the move to the next generation network, which BT refer to as their 21 st Century Network (21CN);
• changes in the way financial information will be made available to Ofcom (via the implementation of a new data extraction tool); and
• the results of various regulatory decisions including market reviews and investigations.

See More
Source: Ofcom