Oman TRA – Telecom Regulation and Law Forum Mohamed El Bashir Technical Affairs Dpt. Manager Access Disputes and Open Access 9 February 2015

2 The Internet Future is Broadband  Broadband is critical for soci-ecominc development Source : ITU Report “ Impact of Broadband on the Economy”  Development of Knowledge based digital economy  Encourage Entrepreneurship, IT/Internet Business SMEs leading to Economic Diversification  GDP growth : World Bank “ Developing Countries “Less income” enjoyed 1.38 GDP increase per 10 percent increase in Broadband penetration compared to 1.2 GDP growth for developed “high income” countries”

3 The Internet Future is Broadband  Internet Users demand high bandwidth ( e.g Netflix, HD TV, Multimedia sharing, …etc )  eHealth, eLearning and remote sensing 1 ExaByte = 1 million terabytes = 1 billion gigabytes.millionterabytesbilliongigabytes

4 The Internet Future is Broadband  Machine to Machine and Internet of Things  Access and Last mile fiber deployment is key to provide high speed broadband capacity

Access Disputes

6 Regulatory Issues and Focus  Types of Disputes : ✓ Interconnection :  Most common operators disputes in newly liberalized markets  Involves wide variety of technical, operational and financial issues ✓ Access :  Telecom facilities, passive infrastructure, Real estate developments..etc  Regulatory Focus : ✓ ensure access on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms ✓ Reference offers ( RIO, RAO ) ✓ Promoting infrastructure readiness and Open Access ✓ Infrastructure cost sharing ✓ Avoid Exclusive Agreements ( Operators and Owners/Developers )

Open Access

8 Open Access Networks  The issue : o control over the passive telecom infrastructure ( e.g Ducts network )  Open Access : Ability to use existing network infrastructure  Open Access to passive infrastructure will : ✓ Expedite Broadband rollout ✓ Promote choice for consumers ✓ Addressing Infrastructure Bottlenecks  Open Access ( Fixed Networks ): ✓ Access to Local loop ✓ Wholesale services ( e.g bitstream ) ✓ Dark fibre ✓ Access to Ducts ✓ Access to in-building wiring  Open Access ( Mobile Networks ): ✓ Mobile Virtual Network Operator

9 Regulatory Issues and Disputes  New Entrants Rollout : ✓ Efficient, easy, a quick Right of Way ( ROA ) ✓ Access and Sharing Regime  Access/Sharing to Ducts and Associated Civil Infrastructure “Technical Standards for Fixed Infrastructure Rollout”  Access/Sharing of Telecom Infrastructure in Mega Projects and Developments ✓ Exclusive Agreements Vs Open Access ✓ Developers Access Obligations ✓ In-Building wiring enforcement ( Building permit process )  Lack of Clear Rules and Responsibilities  Road Opening and Right of Way  Access Obligations of Real Estate owners/developers  Efficient Building Permit process

10 Regulatory Issues and Focus  Open Access Options and Models :  Technical Options ( Network infrastructure sharing, ducts, fiber, …etc )  Government/Private Partnership ( Australia, Qatar, Oman, Malaysia, Singapore ) NBNs Fibre Deployment ( Core to Customer access Networks )  Improve investment incentives for network operators ( Europe )  Hybrid Gov. Funding (Low Interest, Long Term ) and Private Funding ( Africa )

Infrastructure Readiness Model from Qatar

12 Infrastructure Readiness  Distribution Network depend on civil works ( e.g Ducts, manholes, cabinets, telecommunications rooms..etc )  Majority of cost is civil works cost ( 90% )  Ducts Infrastructure is important for Broadband rollout  Ducts Network in Telecom Corridor(s) in Public Roads  Ahghal – Government Construction Agency

13 Infrastructure Readiness  Agreement between Ashghal, Ministry and Regulatory Authority “CRA” ✓ Telecom Ducts Network will be constructed in all new public roads ( express/local )  Solution consulted and agreed with service providers  Access to ducts network will be regulated and managed by CRA  Establishing a new function and automating process

14 Way Forward  Infrastructure Readiness ( in-building wiring, Ducts infrastructure )  Passive Infrastructure Development ( e.g Ducts ) in a Public/Private Partnership  Technical Standards and Guidelines for Access and Sharing of Passive Infrastructure

15 Thank You شكرا جزيلا