World Dialogue on Regulation

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has developed guidelines for network infrastructure sharing.

Infrastructure sharing refers to the use of network infrastructure by two or more operators. Shared facilities will include base station sites, backbone and towers and should reduce duplication of investment in network facilities, according to BRTC officials. The officials said the guidelines would promote the availability of high quality, efficient and competitive telecommunication services throughout the country by ensuring optimum utilization of resources.

The guideline is formulated to encourage telecommunications operators to remove uncertainty and create a framework for better cooperation. Infrastructure sharing includes the requirement to lease or rent infrastructure on a non-discriminatory basis to other service providers. Operators are expected to provide capacity to other operators on a non-discriminatory, first come, first served basis. The guidelines are subject to relevant laws, rules and regulations in conjunction with the operators’ license conditions.

Tariffs for infrastructure sharing are to be mutually agreed upon based on the Commission’s directives. In case of tariff disputes, the decision of the Commission shall be final and binding upon the parties.

All operators are required to publish on their websites detailed information describing the infrastructure available for sharing with other operators. The list must be updated monthly.

Source: United News of Bangladesh - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News.

Papua New Guinea will sell 50% of its state-owned mobile operator to a consortium of companies.

Earlier in 2008, the government had denied plans to privatise PNG Telikom's B Mobile unit, despite the success of the Irish-owned Digicel mobile phone company, which entered the country’s mobile sector in 2007.

PNG State Enterprises Minister Arthur Somare said, "this joint venture is very much better than the two previous unsuccessful privatisation efforts involving Telikom PNG, with a larger $US 42.15 million equity investment for 50% of B Mobile."

"With B Mobile coming under separate ownership and management, Telikom PNG will be able to focus on expansion of its core activities," he added.

The government will sell half of B Mobile to a consortium of companies made up of US-based Trilogy International Partners (20%), General Enterprises Management (GEMS) (20%), PNG's National Superannuation Fund (5%) and Nambawan Super (5%).

GEMS already owns 55% of GreenCom, PNG's third mobile operator, which is yet to start offering service. Henry Kissinger is a director on the Hong Kong-based GEMS board.

Source: Asia Pulse - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News.

On August 25, Iran invited bids from operators to become the country’s third mobile operator.

Iran’s two existing operators are state-owned Iran Telecom and Irancell, 49% owned by MTN Group.

"The invitation to take part in the tender will take place through mass circulation newspapers from August 25 to September 4. The sale of tender documents will take place on September 6," IRNA, Iran’s news agency said, quoting Saeed Mahdiyoun, the official responsible for setting up the third mobile network.

The government’s advisor on the licensing process is Millennium Finance Corporation (MFC), an investment bank created by a group representing a number of investment banking firms in partnership with Dubai Islamic Bank.

"The foreign consulting firm will have responsibilities that include marketing, encouraging investors to participate in the tender, cooperating in the evaluation and determining the qualification of participating companies," the report said.

Source: Reuters - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News.

ArmenTel was fined US$ 1.0 million by Armenia’s anti-trust regulator for anti-competitive actions against the country’s Internet service providers (ISPs).

The fine comes after the launch of an ArmenTel service offering broadband access at a reduced cost. Competing ISPs claim that ArmenTel refuses to allow them to use its facilities to provide a similar service.

The State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC) found a complaint filed by the ISPs to be legitimate and gave ArmenTel 15 days to resolve the situation. The 15 day period has expired and ArmenTel has failed to comply with the SCPEC’s order, and is now considered to be abusing its significant market power. ArmenTel denies any wrongdoing and is expected to appeal the SCPEC decision.

ArmenTel voluntarily relinquished its monopoly on the country’s Internet gateway shortly after its September 2006 takeover by Russia’s Vimpelcom. However, competing ISPs still rely on ArmenTel’s fibre-optic network linking to Georgia and Iran to carry a majority of Armenia’s Internet traffic.

Source: Armenia Liberty - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News.

HITS Telecom could have its license revoked by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) since it has failed to launch service over a year after it was licensed.

The company was granted a Public Infrastructure Provider (PIP) license and a Public Service Provider (PSP) license in March 2007. The licenses enable HITS to operate a wide range of services, including fixed, mobile and data.

In 2007, HITS' representative Jimmy Kiberu said that the company’s GSM network would be operational in time for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, in November 2007. However, HITS only completed its first test call at that time. At the time of the test call, company representatives said that the company would start operations in the first quarter of 2008.

Fred Otunnu, of the UCC, said that operators holding a PSP license are expected to launch operations within a year of licensing, while PIP license holders have eighteen months to start providing service. Otunnu added that companies failing to meet the requirements of their licenses risk losing them if they do not have sufficient reasons for their failure.

Jimmy Kiberu said, "the company will make a major announcement mid next week, to update the public about what is happening. Until then, we cannot comment on anything."

Commenting on the company's expired licence, Mr Kiberu said, "we renewed our PSP license and there were several costs in the process. So, we are still within our licence requirements."

Source: The Monitor - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News.

The government of Rwanda plans to license a third telecommunications operator now that the duopoly period for the existing operators has expired.

Rwandatel and MTN Rwandacel were granted duopoly licenses in 2003 to provide fixed and mobile communications.

"The duopoly expired in June and the government has decided to select a third national operator through a public tender process," Diogene Mudenge, the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency’s (RURA) acting director general, said.

Mudenge said the new operator would be issued with fixed and mobile licenses with 15 year duration. He added that the license obligations include contributions to the universal access fund.

The government has invited potential bidders to express interest in becoming the country’s third operator. The bidding process is restricted to telecom operators or groups that have proven capabilities to advance the Government's objectives in the ICT sector. Bidders should also have the financial capability to implement a realistic plan to enhance the telecommunications sector in Rwanda.

Source: New Vision - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News.