Regulation

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) said on Friday it has officially published the framework for developing 6G standards approved last month by the ITU Radiocommunication Assembly (RA).

Kazakhstan’s minister of digital and aerospace told a government briefing that legislation will be amended to permit the general use of Space X’s Starlink satellite constellation after a trial of the technology connecting schools was permitted last month. 

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has cleared the way for a new licensing regime that will require operators wanting to use foreign satellites to offer services to apply for three licences instead of one.

Myanmar authorities handed over thousands of telecom fraud suspects to China, after a crackdown on rising scam operations between both countries. 

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) plans to tighten SIM rules early next year for anyone with more than five active SIM cards.

Botswana's government has announced plans to develop rules for internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) as the country prepares to transition from internet protocol version 4 (IPv4) to the next generation.

The ITU Radiocommunication Assembly 2023 (RA-23) wrapped up on Friday with a lot of new resolutions covering 6G standards, sustainable usage of space spectrum and gender equality.

Canadian RAN provider NuRAN Wireless says that it has filed an application for a network infrastructure licence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to add more services to its portfolio.

Bahamas Telecommunications Company vice chairman Valentine Grimes said a portion of the cash raised by parent company Liberty Latin America in its recent tower deal, could be used to deploy 5G in the Bahamas. 

It looks like Colombia’s 5G spectrum auction is still on course to take place on 20 December, as stated by the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications (Ministerio de Tecnologias de la Informacion y las Comunicaciones, MinTIC) in June.

Google has been fined US$164,000 by a Moscow court. The fine, which was imposed on Tuesday, was said to be for repeated refusal to store Russian users' data on servers inside Russia.

Pakistan’s telecoms regulator enabled operators to begin charging a SIM termination charge in January to ease the abuse of free SIM cards and combat the use of illegal activities on networks. 

Latvia’s Public Utilities Commission (SPRK / Sabiedrisko Pakalpojumu Regulesanas Komisija) has issued permits for 5G-ready spectrum to LMT (Latvijas Mobilais Telefons) and Tele2 Latvia following last month’s auction.

The GSMA claims that Indonesia stands to lose US$14 billion in GDP gains over the next six years if it doesn’t rethink it 5G spectrum pricing in the next auction.

The Somalian Ministry of Communication and Technology signed a cooperation agreement with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to develop connectivity in Somalia.

Yet another SIM registration exercise has run into deadline difficulties. With only a few days left, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and operators are trying to get cardholders to act fast to avoid potential disconnection.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has told businesses using digital marketing that they’ll have to obtain all-new consent records from customers in order to use a new mandatory unified platform that tracks consumer consent.

Regulators in several West African markets have signed agreements that will facilitate roaming.

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) Office is working on a spectrum management roadmap that could see auctions for the 3500-MHz band in 2026.

Thailand’s Supreme Administrative Court has ruled that a consumer watchdog group can proceed with a lawsuit against the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) over its approval of the True-DTAC merger.

Malaysian mobile operators still haven’t officially finalized agreements to acquire stakes in wholesale 5G operator Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), but the government still hopes to seal everything before the end of the year.

Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications has reportedly approved a plan to auction radio frequencies in the 2500-2600 MHz band for 5G mobile services.

Two stories – from Zimbabwe and Nigeria – again illustrate the often complicated relationship between Africa’s mobile operators and its tax collectors.

Another African country has begun a SIM card registration scheme. More accurately, Mauritius is bringing in registration for new cards and re-registration for existing cards.

Three telecommunications companies have been awarded 20-year licences to develop 5G in Argentina, after bids for spectrum that netted over US$875 million for the government.

Kenya has enacted new health laws, among them a Digital Health Act, 2023, which provides for the establishment of an integrated telemedicine and m-health system.

Brazil’s minister of communications, Juscelino Filho, has signed into  law the ConectaBR programme, whose aim is to improve the quality and coverage of mobile broadband.

Thai operator AIS is still awaiting a final regulatory decision on its buyout of broadband operator 3BB, but a new study on the impact of the merger could finally spur a ruling one way or the other.

Egypt’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) is in discussions to issue 5G licenses in Egypt, according to local press reports.

The government of Burkina Faso has announced a new bill that will limit SIM card ownership in the country.