News & Releases

Building on from the 2014 World Consumer Rights Day celebration with the theme ‘Fix our Phone Rights’ - this year, 2015, one of TRR’s projects is the coordination and facilitation of the gaining of national recognition of World Consumer Rights Day, celebrated on 15 March each year. To commemorate this day the Minister responsible has requested the office of Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulator (TRR) to coordinate the event (see this letter) to be held on the 16th of March in the Sea Front Park in Port Vila.

The celebration of World Consumer Rights day will assist with the increase of a citizen’s awareness of their rights and responsibilities as consumers of goods and services, but more importantly, to gain the Vanuatu Government’s and relevant stakeholder national recognition of this special day.

Global trends are indicating a significant shift of power in favor of consumers. Consumers in Vanuatu need to be aware of this as well as to ensure this power is appropriately utilized and not abused.

Additionally, TRR proposes to use this initiative to progress relevant government policy objectives as well as the Vanuatu’s National Vision.

World Consumer Rights Day 2015 Promotional video clips:

• Consumer rights to clean and safe water

• Consumer rights to healthy food

• Consumer rights to ICT (Use of ICT to enable healthy diet and abuse of ICT will lead to unhealthy diet)

Details

TRR wishes to inform .vu country code top level domain stakeholders, and interested persons/parties that the deadline for the consultation period for comment and input to the TRR Public Consultation on the Vanuatu Domain Names Management and Administration draft Regulation, has been extended for another month.

The new consultation period end date is Friday 27th March 2015, at 4:00pm.

Attachments:
FileDescriptionFile size
Download this file (notice_of_extension_of_consultation_on_dot_vu_domain_name_management_and_administration_regulation.pdf)Notice of Extension of public consultation on .vu domain names 387 kB
Details

TRR has issued relevant regulatory authorization exceptions to three major wholesale service providers that are providing telecommunications services in Vanuatu. The wholesale service providers are Interchange Limited, Fidelity Communications Corporation and Speedcast PTY Limited. It is a requirement by section 12(1) of the TRR Act 2009 that a person must not provide a telecommunications service except under and in accordance with a licence or exception.

TRR has reviewed the telecommunications market and the nature of business of the three wholesale providers and is of the opinion that issuing an exception is appropriate, efficient and necessary to ensure the TRR Act 2009 is not violated. Prior issuing the exception, TRR consulted with all licensees; including the three wholesale providing companies, and proceeded with the exception. No comment or objection was received from any of the existing licencees.

The exceptions set out the terms and conditions upon which the wholesale service providers can operate within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Vanuatu. There are legal obligations set out under the exceptions which bind the wholesale telecom service providers, and the Regulator may, when required, impose an annual fee on the holders of the exceptions. This exception came into effect on 11th February 2015.

Attachments:
FileDescriptionFile size
Download this file (fcc_exception.pdf)Fidelity Communications Corporation 345 kB
Download this file (icl_ltd_exception.pdf)Interchange Exception 370 kB
Download this file (speedcast_exception.pdf)Speedcast Exception 345 kB
Details

On 11th February 2015, TRR issued Order 1 of 2015. This Order replaces Order 2 of 2012 where it, among other things, requires licensees to provide quarterly market data to TRR. TRR relies on such data to perform its functions and duties under the TRR Act 2009 and for assessing and monitoring the telecommunications market. However, licensees have raised their concerns that the data requested in Annex 2 of Order 2 of 2012 is too lengthy for them to be able to provide and, therefore, too demanding on their time.

TRR, in consideration of that view, then suspended the requirement of data collection (although it continued to request data on case by case basis) and then decided to review Order 2 of 2012; and after a wide consultation with all Licensees, issued Order 1 of 2015.

In summary, Order 1 of 2015 requires licensees to continue to provide data under Annex A on a biannual basis, instead of quarterly, and will enable TRR to publish data that is six months old, where necessary.

Attachments:
FileDescriptionFile size
Download this file (order_1_2015.pdf)Order 1 of 2015 313 kB
Details

TRR has developed a three year Strategic Plan to clearly and transparently outline and inform our stakeholders of TRR’s strategic direction.  This is TRR’s first Strategic Plan since its establishment in 2008.

Attachments:
FileDescriptionFile size
Download this file (trr_strategic_plan_2015_2017.pdf)TRBR Strategic Plan 2015 - 2017 1998 kB
Details
  1. Report on the Consultation of TRR's revised Data collection Framework
  2. TRR clarifies the new Prescribed Radio Apparatus Licence Fees introduced in 2015
  3. IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR RADIO APPARATUS LICENCE HOLDERS
  4. TRR acknowledges TVL’s effort and commitment in connecting Torres
  5. TRR releases UAP Stakeholder Update Report No.2
  6. Decision 04 of 2014
  7. Request for Proposal – UAP Computer, Electrical goods and services (Tenders 7-12)
  8. Consultation on Vanuatu Domain Name Management and Administration Draft Regulation
  9. TRR’s 2015 and Onwards Work Plan
  10. Consultation on Wholesale Exception