Regional Mobile Roaming within the SATRC region ( A study) Wangay Dorji CHIEF, Telecommunications Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulations and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX:

Importance of International Roaming Easy to contact since the same ( home) number is used while roaming ( User’s convenience) Able to keep track of the user ( National Security ) SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX:

A report by Lirneasia ( 2012) indicates that the roaming charges within South Asia is one of the highest in the world SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX:

The study revealed that even calling local number of visited network while roaming is really high SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX:

Even in the event of calling home, it is still considerably cheaper for a user to make an international voice call home as opposed to a roaming call home SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX:

Regulation on International Roaming Tariff Currently, many of the countries adopt self-regulation based on market force when it comes to regulation international roaming tariff The only regulation available on International roaming tariff is found in the European Union  European-wide price caps on wholesale tariffs and retail rates Besides, the Arab States also started to regulate International mobile roaming prices within Arab States through Arab Regulators’ Network (AREGNET) SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX:

Case Study: Bilateral agreement ( Singapore and Malaysia  They adopted European Union-style model of imposing wholesale and retail price caps on voice and SMS  The regulation required roaming price reductions of up to 30 per cent for voice calls and 50 per cent for SMS for all mobile operators in Singapore and Malaysia SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX:

Macro-financial effects of roaming regulation on voice roaming revenues, Singapore and Malaysia Source : GSMA SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX:

Case study 2: Regional Roaming arrangement 1. European Union imposes European-wide price caps on wholesale tariffs and retail rates.  European Model is based on a strong political vision with constructive pragmatism: to address the concerns of their citizens, and to provide European solutions for European problems  It introduced lower pan‐European voice roaming prices in the form of a “Eurotariff” designed to build a “real Europe for Citizens” SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX:

SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX:

SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX:

2. The Arab States also started to regulate International mobile roaming prices ( price ceiling) within Arab States through Arab Regulators’ Network (AREGNET).  They regulates retail rates by imposing a 15% ceiling cap on the local calls.  The price for receiving a call should not exceed a local minute in a visiting country. However, no restriction is imposed on whole –sale prices between operators. SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX:

3. ASEAN is working towards make free roaming charges within the member countries: “ ASEAN Ministers announced in January 2011, the ASEAN Master plan 2015, with intention to adopt measures to reduce roaming tariffs.” Region is yet to adopt a unified approach to reducing roaming charges but has adopted best practice guidelines to improve transparency SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX:

SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX: SATRC has initiated a study to Understand the current roaming arrangement including the difficulties and hindrance in the region Study the regional initiatives in facilitating mobile roaming Recommend the possible options for establishing regional mobile roaming within our region

Out-Come of the Study SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01 August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX: Current scenario on the mobile roaming in our region Regional initiatives Type of regulation on mobile roaming tariff Analysis / Recommendation REPORT

Difficulties and Challenges faced by the lead expert  Member countries not responding to the questionnaire of the Working Group SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Services 30 July-01August, 2013 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX: Like this four noble friend, with strong commitment and support, this could be achieved.

SATRC Workshop on Policy, Regulation and Service 30 July-01 August, 2012 Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Nepal Post Box 1072, Olakha, Babesa Express Road, Thimphu: Bhutan. URL: Tel: , FAX: