The Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulator (TRR) has, on Wednesday 20 August 2014, released a further Consultation Paper, for public comment, on proposed new Radio Apparatus Licence Fees and Procedures.

TRR conducted an earlier consultation on this issue, in May 2013.  In the consultation paper released at that time, TRR put forward a proposed new fee structure to replace the existing set of apparatus licence fees.  Comments received on that consultation paper were generally opposed to the proposed new fees.  After considering the responses received during that previous consultation, TRR has decided to undertake further public consultation on the matter.  In particular, TRR has reviewed and assessed the previously proposed set of licence fees after considering public comment feedback received and current market developments, and has now devised a new set of proposed fees for responders to consider and comment on.

 
In this new consultation paper, TRR discusses the principles applicable to the setting of apparatus licence fees.  It considers that the underlying principle for apparatus licence fees should be the need to recover the costs of spectrum management from licensees.  The current level of apparatus licence fees falls short of the level required to recover the costs reasonably attributed to activities associated with radio apparatus licensing.  Because of this, other licensees effectively cross-subsidise radio apparatus licensees.

Attachments:

File	Description	File size
Consultation on Radio Apparatus Licence Fees and Procedures		756 kB

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Published: 20 August 2014

TRR is now seeking Expressions of Interest from qualified individuals to contract with TRR for a short term Contractor to coordinate and manage all procurement aspects of the UAP Fund in relation to Grants for UAP initiative.

Attachments:

File	Description	File size
Expressions of Interest: Procurement, Monitoring & Evaluation		409 kB

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Published: 09 August 2014

The Office of TRR has received an overwhelming response to these UAP project initiatives following the July 18th submission deadline, with over 300 applications being submitted.

TRR is now processing and accessing the applications and will shortlist successful grant applications for the UAP programs. The list of successful grant applications will be made public in due course.

Attachments:

File	Description	File size
More than 300 submissions to the ICT programs under the UAP		453 kB

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Published: 06 August 2014

In the months of April and June 2014, Yumi Konek, Hotspotzz Ltd, Wavecom Ltd and Micoms Ltd had their telecom licences revoked by TRR.  On 25th July 2014, TRR revoked two further telecommunications licences that were issued to CNS (Computer Network Services Ltd) and eTech Ltd.

All of these revocations were made based on the grounds that these former licensees were not providing any form of telecommunications services as authorized by their Licences, nor had they complied with the Licence terms and conditions, and they not have any future plans to do so; which is the primary purpose of holding and requiring a licence. Each licensee was consulted and agreed for the revocation to take effect.

The revocation orders issued by TRR now leave the total number of telecommunications licences in Vanuatu at eight, in total; namely:

1.    Telecom Vanuatu Ltd (TVL)
2.    Digicel (Vanuatu) Ltd
3.    Wantok Network Ltd
4.    Incite Technology at Work
5.    Interchange Ltd
6.    Telsat Broadband Ltd
7.    Skycloud Networks
8.    Spim Ltd

The number of licensees now accurately reflects the competition level of the telecommunications market sector through the active licensees operating in Vanuatu since 2008. From the 8 licensees, two are mobile and fixed telephone service providers (TVL and Digicel) while the rest, including TVL and Digicel, are ISPs.

The revocation of the inactive licensees does not and will not affect, in any way, competition within the sector. The sector continues to develop and grow as new services and value added services are introduced within the markets; much of which has been stimulated by the Government’s innovative National ICT Policy and its Universal Access Policy.

Attachments:

File	Description	File size
Order 6 revoking the Telecommunications Licence granted to CNS Ltd		734 kB
Order 5 revoking the Telecommunications Licence granted to eTech Ltd		382 kB

Details

Published: 31 July 2014