Rogers today announced the next phase of its 3G high speed wireless network and Vision services in 22 Canadian markets. Earlier this year, Rogers introduced its Vision suite of services in Ontario's Golden Horseshoe. Rogers is the first and only wireless carrier in North America to offer wireless video calling. The Rogers Vision suite of services operates on Rogers' new High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) network, the fastest wireless network in Canada. HSPA is the latest evolution of GSM, the world-wide standard for mobile wireless communications. This 3G protocol significantly increases download speeds on wireless devices, providing a user experience similar to broadband high-speed services.
For information about Rogers Vision services and Rogers High Speed Wireless network for business, visit www.rogers.com/Vision.

See Press Release

Source: Rogers Communications

ComReg has published three publications, two being related to consultations on interconnection and call termination, and one on Services of social value.

Response to Consultation & Consultation on Draft Decision - Interconnection Market Review - Fixed Wholesale Call Termination Services

Response to Consultation - Interconnection Market Review Wholesale Call Origination & Transit Services

Information Notice-Harmonised Services of Social Value

Source: ComReg

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is proposing to change the way it rolls out new prefixes for telephone numbers in geographic areas.

The proposed new approach would identify all the new prefixes likely to be required in the next ten years in a single variation to the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997. The variation would also include a trigger that would only make the new prefixes available when there are no existing numbers available to meet an applicant’s request.

There are 38 areas that may require additional numbers in the next ten years. They comprise ten in the (02) Central East Region, ten in the (03) South East Region, seven in the (07) North East Region and 11 in the (08) Central and West Region (for more detail on the areas see backgrounder). Full press release

Source: ACMA, Australia

Following the referrals by T-Online and Liberty Surf companies, respectively in November 2001 and February 2002, who subsequently withdrew their complaint, and following a referral ex-officio by the Conseil de la concurrence, the latter has just published its decision. The decision penalizes France Telecom for abusing its dominant position on the local loop market in favouring marketing of internet access services by its Wanadoo subsidiary to the detriment of the competing Internet access providers.

See the Press Release and the decision

Source: Conseil de la Concurrence

The President’s chamber of the Federal Network Agency has issued a decision on the allocation of frequencies for providing nationwide mobile broadcast services based on the DVB-H standard. The frequencies required for technical broadcasting operations will be given to T-Systems Media&Broadcast GmbH (TSMB). "The allocation of DVB-H frequencies is another important step towards mobile television in Germany", the Agency’s President, Matthias Kurth, said in Bonn. The tenders were evaluated – and the decision taken – on the basis of evaluation criteria that had been pre-determined by the Agency. TSMB was able to prove that it is best suited to fulfil the statutory and technical requirements of the tender terms. By 2015, the network should cover 90 per cent of the German population. This presupposes that the DVB-H service will reach the usual market penetration rate by 2013.

The President’s chamber will publish detailed explanatory notes on its decision in the Agency’s Official Gazette on 17 October 2007.

                
Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission responsible for Information Society and Media, delivered a speech titled "Better Regulation for a Single Market in Telecoms" at the Plenary meeting of the European Regulators Group (Athens, 11 October 2007).

See the Press Release and the Speech

Source: Europa

Today, October 16, 2007, the National Regulatory Authority for Communications and Information Technology (ANRCTI) organised a Consultative Council session, during which the findings of the consultancy project for the elaboration of the Regulatory Strategy in the Electronic Communications Sector for 2007-2010 were presented and debated. The agenda of the meeting also included the project for amending the ANRCTI President’s Decision no.1.074/2004 on the Implementation of Universal Service in the Electronic Communications Sector.

 

On this occasion, the representatives of TASC Strategic Consulting, the consultancy company assisting ANRCTI in the elaboration of the regulatory strategy, presented the conclusions of the study conducted on the main segments of the Romanian electronic communications market and proposed a set of strategic objectives, which should guide the regulator’s approach to this market, as well as a series of remedies for the assessed deficiencies. Full press release

 

Source: ANRCTI, Romania

The Commission of the Dutch Independent Post and Telecommunications Authority (OPTA) has imposed fines totalling EUR 2.88 million on Koninklijke KPN N.V. The reason for this is that KPN has failed to report agreements with two customers active in the wholesale market to OPTA. This was revealed when OPTA launched an investigation following a complaint filed by a market party. This investigation found that the services offered in these agreements were unacceptable, because they were discriminatory and were not transparent. Since KPN wrongly failed to report the relevant services to OPTA, the regulatory authority was unable to perform its duties properly.

See complete Press Release

Source: OPTA

Ireland opens consultation on 2008-2010 strategy.

See the Press Release and the Stratgey Statement

Source : ComReg

MIC invites public comment on the draft report compiled by the Study Group on Future Images of Universal Service Fund System during the period from October 5 (Fri.) to November 5 (Mon.), 2007. MIC has held the meetings of the Study Group on Future Images of Universal Service Fund System since January 29, 2007, to discuss the universal service fund system in addressing the transition to IP-based networks. The draft report has been compiled based on the results of discussions at this study group, and MIC thus invites public comment thereon.

See Press Release

Source: MIC

Although some European countries lead the world in broadband access, there is a growing gap between the best and worst performers, according to a report presented by the European Commission today. Lack of competition and regulatory weaknesses are cited as the main obstacles to broadband growth. The Commission will address these shortcomings in its proposals to reform the EU's Telecom Rules on 13 November. The availability of broadband is a key indicator of ICT development. The Commission regularly reports on the development of broadband markets in the EU with the data validated by Member States via the Communications Committee.

See the Report

See Press Release

Source : Europa

In Morocco, Decision DG/ANRT/N°13/07 (september 11th 2007) set the rules on telecom services promotion strategies. 

Source: ANRT

In relation to the work of the committee on ISP, ARCEP will launch a process leading to a list of QoS indicators for each Intenet Service Providers (ISPs) and a public consultation on the cost model regarding ISP's.

See the Press Release

Source : ARCEP

Chile's telecoms regulator Subtel plans to auction spectrum for wireless broadband in the 700MHz band, watchdog head Pablo Bello told reporters.

Bello said licenses for the WiMax-type service would be offered in the upper part of the UHF band, which has traditionally been used for television broadcasting.

"In the US, spectrum has been awarded in the 700MHz band, which has a lot of advantages, as it can be used to penetrate closed areas and cover long distances, which facilitates the development of new connectivity services, Bello said. Full press release

Source: Business News Americas

Two companies have qualified to bid for a 70 percent stake in Rwandatel, a state-owned fixed and mobile phone operator, a government official told Reuters on Thursday. They are Libya's LapGreen Network and South Africa's Vodacom, according to Manasseh Twahirwa, the executive secretary in Rwanda's privatisation unit.

"We are now going to invite each one of these two companies separately for negotiations on both their technical and financial offers," Twahirwa said. "There's need to harmonise their offers with our government's vision. It's from that stage that we will come up with an overall winner." 

Six companies, including Kuwaiti-owned Celtel and Jordan's V-Tel, had shown interest in the operator in the tiny central African country where cellular services have become an indispensable communication tool. In July, Rwanda bought back Rwandatel for $12 million having previously sold it to Terracom for $20 million, saying the new owners had failed to deliver on contractual obligations such as rolling out a new mobile network.

Source: Reuters

With the installation of more than 5,000 Wi-Fi hotspots at around 3000 locations in the territory, Hong Kong is at the forefront of the world in the provision of public Wi-Fi service, according to the latest statistics published by the Office of the Telecommunications Authority ("OFTA") today (12 October 2007).

"We are pleased to see such a rapid and massive rollout of public Wi-Fi service. Unlike other cities, where the public Wi-Fi service involves either public funding or coordination by governments, such service in Hong Kong is entirely funded by the commercial sector. This testifies once again the success of our market-driven policy. We look forward to this as one of the many initiatives to be taken forward by the commercial operators to further drive the development of Hong Kong as a wireless city," the spokesperson of OFTA said. Full press release

Source: OFCOM, Hong Kong

A Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações (Anatel) aprovou, hoje, o Regulamento de Proteção e Defesa dos Direitos dos Assinantes dos Serviços de Televisão por Assinatura, que abrange os usuários de TV a Cabo, Serviço de Distribuição de Sinais Multiponto Multicanais (MMDS), Serviço de Distribuição de Sinais de Televisão e de Áudio por Assinatura via Satélite (DTH) e Serviço Especial de Televisão por Assinatura (TVA).

De acordo com dados do primeiro semestre de 2007 da Anatel, o regulamento afeta cerca de cinco milhões de usuários (9,4 assinaturas por centena de domicílios). O usuário passará a ter direito ao recebimento, em dobro e em dinheiro, das quantias pagas em decorrência de cobrança indevida feita pela prestadora. Além disso, qualquer valor novo instituído pela operadora, diferente do acordado em contrato, deverá ser previamente informado ao assinante em data anterior à cobrança e aceito por ele. Full press release

Source: Anatel, Brazil

During the first half of 2007, ANACOM received 10,259 written complaints and 363 requests for information from users of communications services and from the general public about their dealings with providers of communications services and the use of these services. In addition, a further 2,347 consultations were made by phone or in person.

Compared to the same period of 2006, the overall volume of complaints has increased by 28% from 8,004.

See Press Release

Source: ANACOM

 

This year, the Romanian regulator is facing multiple challenges, ranging from the expansion of its powers to cover spectrum issues to carrying out the first round of market analyses within Romania’s membership in the EU. This conference will be a unique opportunity for ANRCTI to present the results of a one-year exercise of investigation, analysis and reflection, which are now rounding up in a regulatory policy and strategy for the Romanian electronic communications sector up to 2010.

Full press release

 

Source: ANRC, Romania

 

According ARCEP, Free Mobile did not meet the criteria and requirements for the fourth 3G license.

See Press Release and access the decision

Source: ARCEP

A fin de definir con claridad el uso de las bandas de frecuencias del espectro radioeléctrico y ofrecer seguridad jurídica a los inversionistas y usuarios de telecomunicaciones, la Comisión Federal de Telecomunicaciones (COFETEL) envió a la Comisión Federal de Mejora Regulatoria (COFEMER) el anteproyecto de actualización del Cuadro Nacional de Atribución de Frecuencias (CNAF) 2007 para su revisión.

La COFETEL solicitó la exención a la Manifestación de Impacto Regulatorio, pues el anteproyecto aprobado por el Pleno del órgano regulador no genera costos ni obligaciones a los particulares. Full press release

 

Source: COFETEL, Mexico

 

OTTAWA-GATINEAU — The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today initiated a public process to handle the telephone number shortage affecting the area code 613 region, which may result in the introduction of a new area code.

According to the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA), area code 613 is expected to run out of telephone numbers by May 2012.

Full press release

Source: CRTC, Canada

Report on the provision of universal service to disabled people by Telekomunikacja Polska S.A.
Find the complete press release

Source : UKE

Between 13 August and 7 September 2007 employees of the Office of Electronic Communications inspected how mobile providers implemented the provisions on retail charges for regulated roaming calls and on transparency of information on retail charges derived from Article 4 and Article 6 (3) of the Regulation (EC) No 717/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2007 on roaming on public mobile telephone networks within the Community and amending Directive 2002/21/EC.

Here you can find the complete press release

Source : UKE

According to this Report, regulatory activities afford optimism about the future growth of competition on Poland's telecommunications market and should soon not only provide end-users with a greater choice of their service providers, but also bring about considerably lower retail prices.

Here find the complete Report

Source: UKE

Vietnam's mobile service operators have complained of problems when it comes to installing base station antennae due to complicated procedures in obtaining construction licences, and strong objections from local residents fearful of possible health problems. Hanoi and northern Ha Nam province project are significant problem areas. The number of stations to be installed has shot up this year with Vinaphone and MobiFone, both owned by state-run incumbent Vietnam Post and Telecoms (VNPT) planning 6,000 new stations between them.

See more

Source : Telegeography

Orascom Telecom will bid for Egypt's second fixed line telephony licence, which the government plans to sell next year. Minister of Communications Tarek Kamel said in late June that Egypt would offer a licence to operate a second fixed line network, ending years of monopoly by state-dominated Telecom Egypt. Orascom also received a licence on Sunday to build a submarine network for international phone calls.

See more

Source: Telegeography

On April 4, 2007, the Media Bureau (“Bureau”) of the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) announced a filing window opening on Friday, October 12, 2007 and closing on Friday, October 19, 2007 for FM reserved band (channels 201 – 220) applications for noncommercial educational (“NCE”) FM new station and major change applications. On August 9, 2007, the Commission issued a public notice (the “Notice”) seeking comment on a proposed limit of ten NCE FM new station applications during the window for any party. For the reasons stated below, the Commission is adopting the proposed ten-application limit on NCE FM new station applications filed by any party during the window. Full press release

 

Source: FCC, United States

Chile's government has assigned US$80mn to subsidize projects designed to boost internet coverage during 2008-09, Pablo Bello, head of the telecoms regulator Subtel, told press.

Bello made the announcement at a presentation of the latest broadband internet index for Chile developed by US networking equipment vendor Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO) and tech consultancy IDC. The latest Barometer report for Chile shows broadband penetration of 7.9% at the end of June, with 1.2mn connections, up 33% year-on-year. Full press release

Source: Business News Americas

In the context of its universal service strategy in the telecommunications sector, Senegal plans a pilot projet in the region of Matam.

Click here for the submission form

Source: ARTP

On October 9, 2007, the Commission will hold a public hearing in Gatineau, Québec, to review the regulatory framework for telecommunications wholesale services. The Commission expects the hearing to last for seven days. For more information or to listen to the hearing through live audio feed, please visit this website.

According to Telegeogrpahy, Vietnamese ISP FPT Telecom, a subsidiary of the Corporation for Financing and Promoting Technology (FPT), has  a USD20 million deal with EVN Telecom, part of state-owned utility Electricity of Vietnam to lease a 2.5Gbps international ADSL line. FPT is planning to enter the wireline market and is said to have bought a new switchboard from US vendor Cisco Systems that will allow internet, telephone and television services to be provided via a single cable – so-called ‘triple-play’ services.

See more

Source Telegeography

La Comisión de Regulación de Telecomunicaciones publica para conocimiento y comentarios del sector, el documento “Modelo Inicial de Medición del Nivel de Satisfacción del usuario para los servicios de Larga Distancia, Móvil, e Internet”, que describe las principales características de la metodología propuesta para realizar la Medición del NSU de los mencionadas servicios, así como los formatos de las encuestas a utilizar para la prueba de campo. Full report

Source: CRT,Colombia

Tuesday, October 4, 2007, the Decision on the general terms regarding the inter-operability of interactive digital TV services, as well as of the consumers’ digital TV equipment has been approved in Government session. This decision provides for the TV receivers on the market – for sale or rental – to be endowed with an external interface connector, standardized at a European level, which should enable certain functions, so that to ensure the receiving of digital signals.

 

Thus, an analogue TV receiver should have at least one external interface connector that allows for the simple connection of peripherals, especially of digital receivers. Moreover, digital TV receivers should be able to relay all the components of a digital TV signal, including information on interactive services and on restricted access services. The inter-operability of these services will enable the decoding of TV signals transmitted according to the European encoding algorithm. Full press release

 

Source: ANRCTI, Romania

 

Decision ANRT/DG/N°12/07 has designated operators with significant market power for the year 2008.

Source: ANRT