Highlights and activities for weeks 35 & 36

International News
 

1. Telecommunications

a) Total Telecom. The European Union's digital agenda chief Neelie Kroes has allegedly backtracked on plans to cut wholesale roaming charges. Read more…

b) Policy Tracker. Jens Rohde, the Vice Chairman of the European Parliament's influential Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) has told PolicyTracker that Members of the European Parliament have become more keen on a single European regulator over the last four years. (Subscription is required).

c) Analysys Mason. The European mobile industry has been accustomed to being at the forefront of developing and deploying mobile technologies, but the recent realisation that operators in the USA have established themselves as the leaders in terms of 4G/LTE deployments has raised concerns in Europe. Read more…

d) Compliance Week. European Union lawmakers are taking advantage of their powers in the telecoms arena, blocking a proposed regulation in Portugal and questioning proposed regulations in Germany and Italy. Read more…

e) Agence Europe. On 29 August, the European Commission denied the rumours that European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes was no longer planning to put an end to roaming charges. (Subscription is required).

f) Analysys Mason. Competition in the telecoms industry is threatening to intensify the pressure on the traditional revenue of established communications service providers (CSPs). Read more…

g) Advanced Television. Microsoft is buying Nokia’s handset business and patents for €5.44 billion. Read more…

 

2. Spectrum Management

a) Policy Tracker. The EU lags substantially behind the US in speed of broadband access (the latter's mobile broadband speeds are around 75% higher); number of 4G/LTE connections (around 20% in the US to Europe's less than 2%); and costs (mobile services are less expensive per unit of use and are used much more extensively in the US than the EU), GSMA Chief Government & Regulatory Affairs Officer Tom Phillips said in an interview. (Subscription is required).  

 

3. TV & Radio Broadcasting

1. Advanced Television. New attitudes toward TV viewing have been identified in a new report from Ericsson ConsumerLab, the fourth annual report looking at consumer trends in the TV area. Read more…
2. Advanced Television & Analysys Mason. In its latest pay-TV forecasts, Analysys Mason expects that the number of households taking pay-TV services in Western Europe will increase by 9.2 million to 113.3 million, which amounts to 8.9 per cent growth between 2013 and 2018. Read more…
3. Advanced Television. The global pay-TV market continues to grow in the first two quarters of 2013, adding 23 million new subscribers for a 3 per cent increase, according to ABI Research. Read more…
   
   NGA / Broadband

a) Europa. Today, telecoms companies face different charges and regulatory systems from country to country in the EU, despite years of Commission efforts to smooth out these differences. Read more…
 

5. E-Commerce

a) Post & Parcel. UK parcel and carrier manager Global Freight Solutions (GFS) has launched a new “click and collect” module for its retail clients. Read more…
 

6. Post

a) Post & Parcel. DHL Freight has introduced a new high-quality day-definite service for less-than-truckload shipments (LTL) in 14 countries in Europe. Read more…

 

International Meetings

Our External Relations Manager attended a meeting in Brussels on the proposed Single Telecoms Market.

 

Publications

1. DECISION: Review of must-carry obligations:  By virtue of this decision the MCA is removing the Must-Carry obligation with respect to all General Interest (GI) stations from the Cable TV analogue tier.  Whilst this Decision comes into immediate effect, the MCA is giving a one year transition period in order to give ample time to all stakeholders involved, that is, operators, broadcasters and the viewing public to take whatever measures they deem necessary in order to adjust to this fresh state of affairs. Access the following link for more information and access to the Decision http://www.mca.org.mt/decisions/review-must-carry-obligations-decision
2. Addendum to the MCA's Consultation of 16 August 2013: Bottom Up Cost Model for Mobile Networks and Proposed Mobile Interconnection Pricing:  This addendum is seeking the views of interested parties on a potential additional glidepath to the modelled rate of 0.4 Euro cents per minute.   This document should be read in conjunction with the MBUCM public consultation document (MCA/C/13-1646 Link: http://www.mca.org.mt/consultations/mcas-bottom-cost-model-mobile-networks-and-proposed-mobile-interconnection-pricing)

In view of this addendum, the consultation period of the public consultation ending on 6 September 2013, is being extended to 20 September 2013.  See also: http://www.mca.org.mt/consultations/addendum-mcas-consultation-16-august-2013-bottom-cost-model-mobile-networks-and

Events

1. Best use of web technology amongst NGO – launch of award: The MCA has launched a new award with a view to promote ICT innovation in civil society. This award is aimed at recognizing a voluntary organisation that has pioneered innovative web-based technology to better serve the community. Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) play a significant role in today’s society as they operate closely within the community and address specific social needs. By leveraging on ICTs, NGOs can become more effective in fulfilling their mission and reaching out to their respective target communities. The MCA is organising this award to primarily showcase best practices of how local NGOs can be at the forefront of innovation, but more importantly to highlight the net benefit gained by the community as a result of integration of technology by such organisations. The Authority is also hopeful that such cases will also serve to inspire other NGOs to follow suit. Voluntary organisations interested in submitting a nomination for this award are encouraged to download the nomination form accessible through www.networked.mca.org.mt/networked-society/ngo-award. Applications are open until 19th September 2013.   The initiative is being supported by the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations. The 2013 MCA NGO ICT Award winner will be announced in December.
    

2. eBusiness Awards – extension to deadline for submission of nominations: The Authority has extended the deadline for the submission of nomination for participation in the eBusiness Awards 2013 from Friday 6^th September to Sunday 15^th September 2013. Click here for further information on these awards. http://www.mca.org.mt/ebusinessawards2013/