Regulation Corner - 21/10/08

SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) nations are meeting this week to find out new mechanisms to slash roaming rates in the region.

China is planning to allocate additional radio spectrum to the homegrown 3G service.

Cofetel (Mexico) postpones its WiMAX and 3G tenders to 1Q09, betting on the end of the financial crisis.

Important FCC meeting on Nov. 4 with discussions on the proposed merger between Sprint and Clearwire, and Verizon- Alltel; on a new simpler interconnection fee system (with flat national rate and USF compensation of local costs in service provision).

Australia plans to allow in-flight mobile phone systems.

Belarus will amend its Law on Telecom, taking into account the basic principles of the EU legislation.

NCC (Taiwan) has approved the Chunghwa Telecom proposal to slash the fee of its FTTx internet service by 16% to $16.9.

Indonesia now allows Qtel to buy 65% stake in Indosat (and not only 49% as previously stipulated, arguing that Indosat had a landline business).

Malaysia has launched nationwide mobile number portability (MNP).

Vietnam' s MIC plans to raise tariffs for inter-province calling by over 70% to match cost prices.

Switzerland is planning to sell 19% stake in Swisscom.