STAFF REPORT ISB: Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has published a draft Telecommunications Policy for wider stakeholders consideration and comments from the general public. The draft is based on recommendations from consultants, the PTA and the Frequency Allocation Board (FAB), as well as telecom operators and organisations.
The broad aim of the policy is to implement the governments vision for the sector: Universally available, affordable and quality telecom services provided through open, competitive, and well managed markets and used by all to the benefit of the economy and society.
The policy covers a range of topics including: competition, licensing, interconnection, right of way, internal networks, infrastructure and resource sharing, quality of service (QoS), universal service provision, research and development (RandD) and satellite services.
Notably, the policy sets out rules to allow for spectrum trading to take place, although it will only be permitted under certain specific conditions.
Similarly, operators will be permitted to share spectrum resources, although the MoITT notes that sharing spectrum does not absolve the licensee from any rollout obligations that they might be subject to. Elsewhere, the PTA and the federal government will develop regulatory instruments to enable the provision of voice-over-internet protocol and over-the-top services.