Technologies and how platforms and content are converging in this region has been frequently written about in InterMedia with much discussion around the wider implications for economies and cultures.
A deal to make public sector websites more accessible – particularly to those with disabilities – has been agreed by the three European Union institutions, notes Ars Technica.
Manuel Kohnstamm, Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Liberty Global
The European Commission has opened a consultation on a coordinated introduction of 5G networks in Europe.
A joint paper by the French Competition Authority (Autorité de la concurrence) and the German Competition Authority (Bundeskartellamt) on data and competition, provides background on the approach to data likely to be taken by two of the most active competition authorities in the EU, a blog at Bird & Bird notes.
A deal to make public sector websites more accessible – particularly to those with disabilities – has been agreed by the three European Union institutions, notes Ars Technica.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has appointed Mercy Wanjau as acting director-general to replace Francis Wangusi whose tenure has ended. The board of directors chair, Ngene Gituku, said the appointment has been made to ensure that CA continues to discharge its mandate seamlessly.
Algeria’s posts and electronic communications regulatory body (Autorité de régulation de la poste et des communications électroniques, ARPCE) and Sudan’s telecoms regulatory agency (Autorité de régulation de la poste et des télécommunications, ARPT) have signed a partnership agreement during the sixteenth annual session of Arab Regulators Network held on October 1-4, 2018...
Algeria’s telecoms regulator has changed its name from the Authority for Regulation of Post and Telecoms (Autorite de Regulation de la Poste et des Telecoms, ARPT) to the Authority for Regulation of Post and Electronic Communications (Autorite de Regulation de la Poste et des Communications Electroniques, ARPCE).
There are a number of developments underway in Bahrain which will improve both services and infrastructure, notes BuddeComm.
Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has published a final determination in its review of competition in the wholesale mobile termination market, concluding that messaging termination services on mobile operators should no longer be subject to ex-ante regulation, while the wholesale market for call termination services remains under ex-ante regulation by TRA.
The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) has published draft guidelines on the implementation by regulators of new EU net neutrality rules and is seeking the views of stakeholders, with the consultation closing on 18 July.
Operators, governments and regulators face new challenges in coming to terms with Africa’s emerging digital services sector, writes RUSSELL SOUTHWOOD
July 2018, Volume 46 Issue 2
The IIC’s first TMF of 2017 was held in Doha, with OTT and IoT issues to the fore, as CRISTINA MURRONI reports.
July 2017, Volume 45 Issue 2
Digital transformation poses great challenges for developing inclusive, affordable services for all Africans - with regulators now under considerable pressure, reports RUSSELL SOUTHWOOD.
July 2017, Volume 45 Issue 2
As the OECD prepares for a ministerial meeting on the digital economy, Jørgen Abild Andersen argues that the highest level of coordination among many government departments is needed to deliver its aims
April 2016, Volume 44 Issue 01
The hype about the next generation of mobile technology is likely to gather pace in the next few years, but currently there is a lot of scepticism about whether it qualifies as an integrated, great leap in progress, as Marc Beishon finds in this round-up.
July 2016, Volume 44 Issue 02
As regulators start to fundamentally review their remits, Chris Chapman, the incoming president of the IIC and chair of Australia’s ACMA, details the extent of digital disruption and possible regulatory response, in this two-part article.
January 2016, Volume 43 Issue 04
Are regulations being applied to cloud computing in a way that stimulates innovation, asks Kuan Hon.
January 2016, Volume 43 Issue 04
The modern sharing economy is small but growing - and enabled by the internet. John Ure discusses its possible impact and where regulation may be heading, with particular reference to Asia.
March 2015, Volume 43 Issue 01
Matt Hatton reviews the main regulatory trends in the world of M2M and the internet of things.
March 2015, Volume 43 Issue 01
H Sama Nwana makes a passionate case for promoting TMT and not just telecoms in Africa – a case that could benefit all developing nations.
June 2015, Volume 43 Issue 02
Universal access and service programmes are vital to extending broadband to all parts of a country. Antonio GarcIa Zaballos discusses the findings of a comparative report.
June 2015, Volume 43 Issue 02
The IIC’s TMF in South Africa proved to be a thorough examination of all the supply and demand side issues testing regulators on the continent
April 2016, Volume 44 Issue 01
How can ICT best be deployed to advance the new Sustainable Development Goals? M-H Carolyn Nguyen and Paul Mitchell review the history and current position.
January 2016, Volume 43 Issue 04
The pressure on terrestrial broadcasters to give spectrum to the mobile sector shows no sign of letting up. Roland Beutler, at Germany's Südwestrundfunk, a regional public broadcaster, puts his side of the debate.
September 2015, Volume 43 Issue 03
Richard Womersley sets the scene for the upcoming world radio conference, where the agenda for mobile spectrum is likely to dominate proceedings.
September 2015, Volume 43 Issue 03
Pai was appointed as a commissioner by Barack Obama in 2012. Among his views: “Given how rapidly the communications sector is changing, the FCC should do everything it can to ensure that its rules reflect the realities of the current marketplace and basic principles of economics.”
April 2017, Volume 45 Issue 1
We got there in the end: The European Commission makes a big point about ‘roam like at home’, the end of mobile roaming charges in the European Union on 15 June, a ban that has taken ten years to negotiate.
July 2017, Volume 45 Issue 2
Regulation in Sub-Saharan Africa has hit a brick wall, write RUSSELL SOUTHWOOD and STEVE SONG. What changes are needed for a data-centric future?
Julyl 2019, Volume 47 Issue 2
The South African Competition Commission released its final report and recommendations of its Data Services Market Inquiry on 2 December. The Commission launched the Inquiry in 2017 as the result of public concerns over high data prices.
Inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, unveiled the World Wide Web Foundation’s global plan of action, Contract for the Web, at the United Nations Internet Governance Forum in Berlin on 25 November.
WRC-19: Agreement has been reached on a new milestone-based approach for the deployment of non-geostationary satellite (NGSO) systems.
Africa: The mobile operator MTN has announced that it has deployed over 200 commercial rural sites across its footprint, using OpenRAN technology.
Seven telecoms companies in South Africa have signed a cooperation agreement with the government outlining guiding principles for conduct within the fibre-based connectivity sector, notes Business Report.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has appointed Mercy Wanjau as acting director-general to replace Francis Wangusi whose tenure has ended. The board of directors chair, Ngene Gituku, said the appointment has been made to ensure that CA continues to discharge its mandate seamlessly.
Egyptian ICT minister, Amr Talaat, has inaugurated a national ICT monitoring centre, which is affiliated with the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), notes Ecofin. “With this new development, the Egyptian government is confirming its ambition to improve the quality of telecoms and internet services provided to citizens..."
Mauritania's small population and low economic output has limited the country’s ability to develop sustained growth, notes Developing Telecoms, citing a report by Research & Markets. “There are also practical challenges relating to transparency and tax burdens which have hindered foreign investment.
The Communications Service Proclamation has been adopted by the Ethiopian Parliament and introduces a number of major changes into the Ethiopian telecoms sector. Commentary from DLA Piper's telecoms team notes that the most important aspect of the proclamation is that it has liberalised the sector, which has been monopolised by the government for many decades.
Rwanda’s government is aiming to regulate social media content, a move which is intended to curb the spread of misinformation, according to the minister for ICT and innovation, Paula Ingabire, as AllAfrica reports.
Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has published a final determination in its review of competition in the wholesale mobile termination market, concluding that messaging termination services on mobile operators should no longer be subject to ex-ante regulation, while the wholesale market for call termination services remains under ex-ante regulation by TRA.
Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, South Africa’s communications minister, has withdrawn the contentious Electronic Communications Amendment Bill, reports TechCentral. “The draft legislation, which creates the framework for a wholesale open-access network has drawn severe criticism from Vodacom, MTN and others over, among other things, its proposal to force network operators to provide wholesale access to their infrastructure on a cost-orientated and open-access basis...
Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers has issued a new proclamation calling for the establishment of an independent federal government body to oversee the communications sector, as TeleGeography reports.
Morocco’s head of government, Saad Eddine El Othmani, has said the country “is betting on digital transformation to achieve a qualitative leap in economic and social development,” reports Morocco World News.
Operators in Saudi Arabia have agreed a change in the calculation of their annual royalty fees with the government, reports Reuters. The companies also said they had reached a deal with the government to settle disputed fees to be paid for previous years up to 2017.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has announced that it will begin a market inquiry into mobile broadband services, reports BusinessTech. “In a statement on 16 November, Icasa said that the purpose of the inquiry is to assess the state of competition and determine whether or not there are markets or market segments within the mobile broadband services value chain which may warrant regulation.
Algeria’s posts and electronic communications regulatory body (Autorité de régulation de la poste et des communications électroniques, ARPCE) and Sudan’s telecoms regulatory agency (Autorité de régulation de la poste et des télécommunications, ARPT) have signed a partnership agreement during the sixteenth annual session of Arab Regulators Network held on October 1-4, 2018...
The South African government is poised to liberalise radio frequency spectrum by allowing the free trading of spectrum assignments, subject to regulatory conditions, reports TechCentral.
Spooked by Netflix’s growing popularity among African viewers, the continent’s largest television operator wants the disruptor to be regulated, reports Quartz Africa. “This call for regulation is a common call from established monopolies who find their grip on a local market challenged by a tech disruptor, and MultiChoice is no different.
Algeria’s telecoms regulator has changed its name from the Authority for Regulation of Post and Telecoms (Autorite de Regulation de la Poste et des Telecoms, ARPT) to the Authority for Regulation of Post and Electronic Communications (Autorite de Regulation de la Poste et des Communications Electroniques, ARPCE).
Activists and journalists are concerned that a law passed by Egypt's parliament allows President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi's government to punish press outlets and social media users for publishing “false information”, notes Deutsche Welle.
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has reduced local mobile data and internet charges after concluding a cost modelling exercise for telecommunication network services in the country covering mobile, fixed and internet access networks, reports AllAfrica.
South Africa’s regulator, ICASA, has published end user and subscriber service charter regulations as the start of a three-pronged process to address concerns about the cost of data services.
South Africa’s regulator, ICASA, has published end user and subscriber service charter regulations as the start of a three-pronged process to address concerns about the cost of data services.
Zimbabwe’s cabinet has approved a proposal to merge the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (Baz) and the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) in a development meant to foster technological convergence, reports the Chronicle.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) National Assembly has adopted a new Telecommunications Act to update the nation’s aging legal framework for the sector, bring the rules in line with the country’s needs and to align with other relevant legislation, notes TeleGeography.
The National Media Council (NMC), the federal authority tasked with supervising all media activities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has recently issued electronic media activity regulations, notes law firm Clyde&Co.
South Africa’s regulator, ICASA is to hold public hearings to discuss “the review and development of the authority position on historically disadvantaged persons and broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE)”, notes ITWeb.
The government of Togo, in an effort to ensure the provision of universal electronic communications services in the country, has adopted a draft decree that defines the rules applying to such services, notes TeleGeography.
As expected, Somalia’s government has decided to set up the country’s first regulatory body for the telecoms sector, the National Communications Authority, notes Mobile World Live.
Turkey will expand the powers of its radio and television watchdog to include overseeing online content providers, under a draft law submitted to parliament on which the main opposition party said amounted to digital censorship, reports Reuters.
The Tunisian telecom authority INT (Instance Nationale des Telecommunications) has published a summary of its main priorities for 2018, which include a number of new initiatives alongside its ongoing activities in the areas of consumer protection, quality of service, and regulation of wholesale broadband offers, notes Telecompaper.
Cyril Ramaphosa, the new president of South Africa, included the following in his state of the nation address: “Our prosperity as a nation depends on our ability to take full advantage rapid technological change. This means that we urgently need to develop our capabilities in the areas of science, technology and innovation.
Benin’s Authority for Regulation of Electronic Communications and Post (ARCEP) signed a decision on 17 January 2018 reassigning all subscribers of Globacom Benin (Glo Mobile) to the network of Moov Benin, reports TeleGeography.
The UAE's telecoms regulator has clarified that there is no change in its policy towards voice over internet protocol (VoIP) applications, following complaints by users that phone and video service Skype had been disrupted, reports The National.
Experts in information and communication technology say enforcing data protection laws will boost growth in Africa’s digital economy, reports The Cable.
he Communications Authority of Kenya will force mobile phone operators to share money transfer infrastructure, reports The Standard.
African taxmen pick on phone companies because they make lots of money and keep excellent records in a continent where both these things are rare, writes the Economist.
The federal parliament of Somalia has passed a communications act that seeks to streamline the country's telecoms sector and tackle the growing cybercrimes in the country, reports the Horn Observer.
The GSMA has brought out a report, “Wholesale open access networks”, which examines the performance of the wholesale open access network (WOAN) model (also known as single wholesale network, SWN) in five markets: Kenya, Mexico, Russia, Rwanda and South Africa.
The Brookings Financial and Digital Inclusion Project (FDIP) report for 2017 evaluates access to and usage of affordable financial services by underserved people across 26 geographically, politically and economically diverse countries.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa's (ICASA’s) recent draft regulations on mobile data expiry and changes to out-of-bundle billing practices for telecoms operators could unintentionally raise data prices, reports ITWeb.
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