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May 2016 | CRANICLESCRANCommunications Regulatory Authority of Namibia

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CRANICLESNEWSLETTER

Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia

June 2016

2June 2016 | CRANICLESCRANCommunications Regulatory Authority of Namibia

TABLE OF CONTENTSIn This Issue (Editorial) 4

Our Vision, Our Mission, Brand Promise 5

Our Values 6

Who We Are 7

CRAN’s New Board Members 9

ICT Minister Announce New Board 10

Up Close With Frieda Kishi 11

CRAN Turns 5 12

CRAN Stands For Child Online Protection 13

What is Child Online Protection 14

CRAN And NCRST Sign MoU 15

CRAN Sign MoU With The Ministry Of Finance: Directorate Of Customs And Excise 16

Type Approval And Technical Standards Deadline Extended 17 Dominance Public Hearing 18

Infrastructure Public Hearing 19

Postal Legal Study Project Introduced 20

CRAN Attends WRC-15 22


hepastsixmonthswerefilledwith remarkable milestones. OurfirstBoardofDirectorscompleted theirterm and, in February 2016, CRAN’s newBoardwereofficiallyannounced.

The CRANicles team had the opportunityto capture some remarks the Honourable Minister, Tjekero Tweya, made to the newBoardon.Readmoreonpage10.

WespoketonewBoardChairperson,FriedaKishi.ReadonwhysheispersonallyinvestedinCRAN’s success as she says that accessto ICT is critical for thedevelopment of allaspectsofthenation’seconomy.Catchthefullinterviewonpage11.

Since October 2015, CRAN signed twosignificant Memoranda of Understanding.Firstly with the National Commission ofScienceResearchandTechnology(NCSRT)andthesecondwiththeMinistryofFinance:Directorate of Customs and Excise. Catchthisstoryonpages15and16.

CRAN continuously strives to engage,maintain and strengthen its relationshipwith all stakeholders in order to formulateregulations that provide innovative, well-informed regulatory services to the ICTindustry in Namibia. Public hearings, suchas those regarding Dominance andInfrastructure Sharing, are some of thestakeholder initiatives that CRAN arrangedto interact with stakeholders. For the fullstoriesandhowtheyimpactyou,seepages18and19.

Trends in postal sector development andthe potential impact on postal sector policy in Namibia were investigated through aworkshop held in the capital (See page20).Theworkshopalsoprovidedasummaryof findings on the Postal Legal & MarketStudy and insight into the global postalenvironment.

ItrustyouwillfindthiseditionoftheCRANiclesinsightful. Ifyouhaveanyenquriesor ideason how we can improve this newsletter,[email protected].

HappyReading!

Morna Ikosa

TIN THIS ISSUE

TEXTMornaIkosaPHOTOSparklestudio


Ourvisionstatementiswherewewanttobein5to10yearsthroughtheimplementationofguidingtransformationalinitiatives.

TobeadynamicregulatoroftheInformationandCommu-nicationsTechnology(ICT)sectorthattransformsNamibiaanditspeopleintoanactiveknowledge-basedsocietythatderivesthefullsocio-economicbenetsfromthesector.

Ourmissionstatementishowweplantogettothevision.Topurposefullyregulatetelecommunicationsservicesandnetworks,broadcasting,andpostalservicesincludingtheassignmentandefcientuseofradiospectrumso that all

Namibians derive the fullsocio–economic bene ts of the ICT sector.

TotransformNamibiaintoanactiveknowledge-basedsocietybycre-atingaframeworkforanopen,competitiveICTsectorwhilststimulatingproductsandinvestment.

BRAND PROMISE

OUR MISSION

OUR VISION


Anunwaveringadherencetoethicalprinciplesandhonesty.Buildingopenandhonestrelationships.Goodcorporategovernanceprinciples.

OUR BRAND VALUES

Dedicationtoopenness,transparentcommunica-tionandaccountability.

Havingaconsultativeapproachbybeingavail-ableinanadvisorycapacity.

FindingnewwaysofdoingthingstopushourselvesandICTforward.Applyingnewthinkingtoovercomingchallenges.

Eachemployeeanddepartmentcommitstoaspiritofcollaboratinginternallysothatexternalstake-holdersenjoythebenetsthereof.Theboardandmanagementarecommittedtocreatingconditionswhichpromoteandencouragecollaboration.Celebratingoursuccessandeach-other.

INTEGRITY

TRANSPARENT

INNOVATIVE

KNOWLEDGE-ABLE

TEAMWORK

Tobewell-informed,well-educatedandskilled.Demonstratingourknowledge,insight,experience

andunderstanding.ObtainingspecicknowledgerequiredofanICT

regulator.


TheCommunicationsRegulatoryAuthorityofNamibia(CRAN)istheindependentregulatorofNamibia’stelevision,radio,spectrum,mobile,xedline,Internetandpostalservices.CRANissueslicencestothelikesofMTC,TNMobile,TelecomNamibia,AfricaOnline,OneAfricaTV,NamibiaBroadcastingCorporation,Radiowave,FreshFM,etc.

ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION

AnypersonmaydirectrequestsatCRANtoprovidecopiesofpublicinformationsubmittedbyanycompanyapplyingfororinpossessionofalicenceissuedbyCRAN.IftheinformationisnotavailableonCRAN’swebsite,theinformationmayberequestedfromCRAN’soffices.

APPLYING FOR A LICENCE

Anypersonorcompanymayapplyforalicence.Innovativeentrepreneursareencouragedtoapply.LicenceapplicationformsareavailablefromtheCRANwebsiteandoffices.Theformsareuser-friendlyandindicateallthecriteriatobemetbeforealicencecanbegranted.Theapplicationprocessistransparent,allowingthegeneralpublictheopportunitytoviewanyapplicationatCRAN’sofcesandsubmitcommentsontheapplication.

FAIR COMPETITION

NocompanyissuedwithalicencebyCRANmayactinacontrarymanner to fair competition.

NAMIBIAN OWNERSHIP

CRANmayexclusivelyissuelicencestopersonsandcompanieswhichare51%Namibian-owned,controlledandlocatedinNamibia.TheMinisterofICTmaygrantanexemptionandapplicationsforexemptionaretobesubmitteddirectlytotheMinisterofICT.

SHARING OF EQUIPMENT

Companiesawardedwithalicencemustsharetheirtow-ers,mastsandextratelecommunicationscapacitywitheachother,intheeventanothercompanymakessucharequest.Thisisdoneinordertopreventtheduplicationofequipment,promotefaircompetition,reducecapitalcoststocompanies,inadditiontoprotectingthenaturalenvironment.

WHO WE ARE

9May 2016 | CRANICLESCRANCommunications Regulatory Authority of Namibia

Ms.FriedaNaapopyeKishi(Chairperson)

Ms.BeverleyGawanas-Vugs Ms.AnneDorisNastassjaHans-Kaumbi

Mr. Mpasi Haingura

Mr.MosesMolatendiMoses

Mr.AndriesNekongo

CRAN’s NEW BOARD MEMBERS

CRANCommunications Regulatory Authority of Namibia

June 2016 | CRANICLES


ICT MINISTER ANNOUNCE NEW BOARD

CRAN’s newly elected Board member wereofficially introduced to the public by theMinister of Information and CommunicationTechnology (ICT), Honourable Tjekero Tweya,on22 February2016. TheBoard’s term is fromFebruary2016toFebruary2019.

Hon. Tweya informed the Board that theirmandate is to make information accessibleand affordable to all Namibians. He statedthatmostNamibiansdonothaveaccesstotheinternet,andasaresult,aredeniedaccesstocriticalandimportantinformation.

ThenewBoardmembersfromtheleft:Ms.FriedaNaapopyeKishi(Chairperson)Mr.Moses

MolatendiMoses;Ms.BeverleyGawanas-Vugs;Mr.MpasiHaingura;(Seated)HonourableTjekeroTweya(MinisterofInformationandCommunicationTechnology(ICT)

(Not present in the picture):Ms.AnneDorisNastassjaHans-Kaumbi;Mr.AndriesNekongo

The Minister indicated that he will setperformance agreements for the Board tomeasure the effectiveness and efficiency oftheir activities. Hon. Tweya futher remindedthe Board to protect consumers, enhancethe licensing process, find laws that allowmarginalised people to have access toinformation and make decisions that wouldfosteraknowledgeablesocietyinNamibia.


►What prompted you to accept the role of CRAN’s Board Chairperson?

I welcome the opportunity to serve in thecapacity of Chairperson because I want to make a difference. I have witnessed first-hand theincredible power of the web to improve health,education,andeconomicdevelopment.Ibelievewith collaborative policy making we can drivepricesdown,build crucialinfrastructure and moveICTforward.

► What do you aim to accomplish during your tenure as CRAN’s Board Chairperson?

Effective regulation hasproven to result in greater economic growth,increased investment, better quality of service,higher penetration of ICT products and servicesandrapidtechnological innovation inanynation.Accessto ICT iscritical forthedevelopmentofallaspectsofthenation’seconomy.Soagoodandeffective regulatory environment is essential inordertofosterdevelopmentforafast,affordable,reliablenetworkcoverageanddigitaleconomy.

► What positive developments would you like to see in the Namibian ICT industry?

Therearevariouschallengesaffectingtheeffectiveregulationandgrowthof the ICT sector, suchas;qualityofservice,settingupadequateinfrastructure

andbuildingrelationshipswithkeystakeholders. ► What do you think are the characteristics of an effective Board of Directors?

To be truly effective, a Board needs Directorswho can work as a team. It requires diverse andcomplementing skills, knowledge and expertise,whilstdrawinguponthetechnicalexperienceandindustryknowledgeofthoseworkinginthefield.

► How do you plan to assist CRAN in achieving its mandate and strategic goals?

CRAN seeks to promote the growth of ICT by the licensing of competitive operators, introducingandmaintaininga transparent regulatoryprocess,protecting all operators and preventing thedominant ones from the misuse of their marketpower, protecting consumer rights, encouragingnew and advanced services and attractinginvestorstotheindustry.InlinewithitspowersundertheCommunicationAct2009(Act8of2009),wewillsteertheAuthorityintotherightstrategicdirection,toensurethatICTservicesareefficient,affordable,reliableandavailabletoall.

► What is your vision for the CRAN Board?

ItisimportantfortheBoardofDirectorstocarryoutourstatutorymandatetosupervisethemanagementofCRANwiththehigheststandardsofethicalconductand in the interestofCRAN. TheBoardwill ensurethatthelineofresponsibilitybetweentheBoardandmanagementisclearlydelineated.

► Do you have a particular area or passion when it comes to the ICT industry that you aim to drive during tenure?

I am keen to roll-out a planfor the implementation of school curricula through

ICT infrastructure across all regions. Taking ICT connectivity to schools will and must happen.We need to adequately prepare learners to leadproductivelivesintheglobalsociety.Ibelievewitha strong political will, resources and adequateinfrastructure,progresscanbemade.Technologyisagamechangerfortheeducationsystem.

► What books are you reading at the moment?

IamreadingLeanin:Women,WorkandthewilltoleadbySherylSandberg.

► What is your favourite motivational quote?“It’snotwhereyoustartbuthowhighyouaimthatmatters for success”

UP CLOSE WITH FRIEDA KISHI

Ms.FriedaNaapopyeKishi(ChairpersonofCRANBoard)

/ “It’s not where you start, but how high you aim”/


CRAN TURNS 5

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) on 18 May 2016 marked fiveyearssinceitsinception.DuringthisperiodCRANsuccessfully implemented its mandate, missionand vision and contributed positively towardsthesocio-economicdevelopmentofNamibiansthrough“pushingICTForward”.

CRAN’s journey commenced where themandate of the Namibia CommunicationsCommission’s obligations ended. It was duringthistransitionthatCRANadopteditsfirstStrategicPlan(2012-2014)whichservedastheroadmaptodevelopinganindependentregulatorinlinewiththe requirements of the Communications Act,No.8of2009.

The strategic objective was to develop a fullyoperational, self-funded entity with a servicetechnology neutral license regime, and as aregulator whose mandate is to purposefullyregulate telecommunications services andnetworks,broadcasting,postalensuretheoptimaluse, management and allocation of radiospectrumandnetworkservicesinthecountry.

“Staying true to the mantra of, “pushing ICTforward”, CRAN has indeed achieved majormilestonessinceit’sinceptionwhichinclude:

• Transitioning existing licensees to a new licenseregimewithinfirstyearofoperations,and now boast a total of 28 broadcastinglicensesand13telecommunicationslicensesasatApril2016;

• Duringthefirst5yearsCRANdevelopedandimplementedthefollowingRegulations:

-LicenseConditionsforLicensees -FirstSpectrumBandPlanforNamibia -FirstNumberingPlanforNamibia -MinimumQualityofServiceRegulations -TypeApprovalregulations -DoneaMarketDominanceStudyImportant Regulations that are under

developmentandinthepublicdomainare:

-Infrastructuresharing -Broadcastingcode -UniversalAccess -NumberPortability

• Having the best data collection systemsin the SADC Region, which accuratelygathers required regulatory statistics fromtelecommunication operators and thisinformation, is used for GAP analysis studies,to determine underserved areas that needaccesstoICTservices;

• Wining gold and bronze respectively for beststandattheWindhoekshow;

• FormulatingthefirstDigitalTerrestrialTelevision(DTT)regulatoryframeworkintheregion,whichother countries are using as a benchmark for preparingregulationsintheSADCregion”

• CRAN is the chairperson of CRASA (Communications Regulator’s Association ofSouthernAfrica)andwillserveontheExecutiveCommittee until March 2018.

• Cranisfinanciallyindependentandsubmittedauditedfinancialstatementsfor4consecutiveyears,

CRAN successfully launched the secondnationalconsumer campaign titled “Own-It! The Right ToConnect”. This campaign, seeks to empower,inform and engage consumers in the regulatoryprocessandatthesametimeeducateconsumerson their rights and responsibilities within the ICTindustry.

CRANachieved commendablemilestoneswithinashortperiodoftime.TheseachievementswouldnothavebeenaccomplishedwithoutthesupportofourlineMinisterHonourableTjekeroTweyaandhis robust team, and his predecessor Hon. JoelKaapanda, licensees and key stakeholders andmost importantly our staff members who are highly motivated and committed to keeping CRAN’sbrandvisibleandtruetoitsmandate.

The Board of Directors, CRANmanagement andtheentireCRANteamarecommittedtodeliveringon our mandate and becoming a dynamic,proactiveandresult-drivenregulator,transformingNamibiaanditspeopleintoanactiveknowledgebased society, to derive the full socio-economicbenefitsofICT’s.

FestusK.Mbandeka,CRAN’sCEO


CRAN STANDS FOR CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION

CRAN was invited to co-host the one dayChild Online Safety and Business Workshopheldon26February2016.CRAN’sCEOFestusMbandeka, explained that the dialoguecould not have come at a better time.Namibia is currently engaging in discussionspertaining to the upcoming criminalisation of child pornography, which forms part of thedraftElectronicTransactionandCyberCrimeBill,soontobepromulgated.

Mbandekafurthernotedthatalthoughthereis currently no legislative instrument thatspecifically protects children online, CRAN,through its national consumer campaign themedOWNITtherighttoconnectisutilisingvariouscommunicationchannelstoeducateandraisepublicawarenessontheissue.

In addition, CRAN through its 2015-2018Strategic Plan made the protection ofchildren online a strategic priority. Betweennowand2018,theAuthorityaimsto: 1. take the lead in working with

stakeholders in order to increaseconsumer confidence and createpublic awareness on issues pertaining tothesafetyofchildrenonline;

2. makerecommendationsforlegislative

reform to enact laws aimed at protecting children online; and

3. work with licensees and other industry stakeholders for them to take the lead

in ensuring the safety of their customers online.

In implementing this strategic objective, CRAN will continue to engage the Ministry of ICT and all other stakeholders that are tasked with the responsibility of formulating a legislative framework to deal with child online protection. The legislative response will be in line with the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) guidelines on policy formulation which include:

1. Review of the existing legal framework to determine if all necessary legal powers exist to enable law enforcement and other relevant agencies to protect children online on all Internet-enabled platforms; and

2. Establish that any act against a child which is illegal in the real world is illegal online and that the online data protection and privacy rules for legal minors are also adequate.(ITU, 2009).


14CRANCommunications Regulatory Authority of Namibia


Whatcomestoyourmindwhenyouhearaboutchildonline protection? Somewill simply say, protectingyourchildonline,andyes, itwouldbecorrect,butthequestioniswhymustIprotectmychildonline?

WhenIwasgrowingup,mymotheralwaystoldmenot to talk to strangers, let alone receiveanythingfrom strangers. As I grew older, my parents gotstricter,andtoldmetonevergetintotaxiatnight,orgooutatnightaloneasagirl.Theysaidtheydidthatto apparently protect me.

With the proliferation of technological devicessuchassmartphonesandSamsungtabsandIpadsflooding the market, children are now able toaccesstheinternetatthetouchoftheirfingertips.Arecentstudyonknowledge,attitudesandpractiseson theuseof ICTsandawarenessofonline risksbyadolescentsinNamibia,conductedin2016,showedthatonly7%ofadolescentsinNamibiaarenotusingtheInternetoramobilephone.Internetaccessandusageoffermanybenefitsformaintainingfriendships,learning and information, exchange of ideas. Mydaughter,at theageofone,alreadystartedusingmytabandphone,towatchandlearnherfavouritenursery rhymes. Although my daughter innocently goes on theinternet to access her songs, there are predators,perpetratorswaiting to lure and “groom”my childinto performing devilry sexual acts. Children arebeing sexual exploited online. The Internet andmobiletechnologiesposepotentialriskstochildrenifthesearenotmanagedwell.Suchriskscanincludechildren revealing private details of themselvesor people they know. Information such as home addresses or sexual pictures, ormessages that aremeant to hurt or humiliate others in online fora can may be shared by others, sometimes without yourchildren or your knowledge, and used to commit

actsofviolence,abuseorexploitation.

TheInternetandsocialmediaplatformsarechangingthe scope, opportunity and forms of violence,abuse and exploitation of children. Violence andabuse are no longer restricted to homes, schoolsand communities, they now also happen in theonline environment, or may start off in the onlineenvironmentandhappenoffline.Thisisforexample,the casewhen an adult, sometimes pretending tobeachild,befriendsachildonline,andarrangestomeetthechildofflineonlytoabusethechild.

The study conducted in 2016 in Namibia showedthat 68% of children (age group between 13 and17 years) surveyed, reported having seen sexualcontent online, which they did not wish to see.Thirty-onepercentofthesurveyedadolescentshadreceivedsexuallyexplicitimagesofpeopletheydidnot know, and 29% had seen child pornographycontent. In totalonly 47%ofchildren reported thatthey spoke to their parents/caregivers about theironline experiences, and what they do online. Thepotential risks of digital engagement need to bemanaged well, by children themselves, caregiversand teachers, in order to enable children to bearallthefruitstheInternethastooffer,withoutputtingthematriskofviolence,abuseandexploitation.

The116ChildHelpline,hostedbyLifeLine/ChildLine,provides freecounselling forchildrenon issuessuchasviolence,abuseandexploitation.Achildcancall116and talk toacounsellor,whocanalsoprovidefurther support by transferring the case to other serviceproviders.Thecounsellorsaretrainedonchildonline protection and can hence provide specificpsychologicalsupportinthisfield.

In the next editionwewill discuss the typeof childonlineabuseandexploitationthattakeplace.

ThevariousstakeholderswhoofficiallyopenedthefirstnationalChildOnlineProtectionCampaignheldon18-19May2016attheHiltonHotelinWindhoek

WHAT IS CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION?

CRAN & NCRST SIGN MOU


CRAN and the National Commission forResearch,ScienceandTechnology(NCRST)signed an MoU intended to promoteappliedresearchandassesstheimpactthatcapacity development has on the socio-economicdevelopmentinthecountryandthe usage of ICT in Namibia.

The MoU will create awarness on cybersecuritythreatsandfurtherseektodevelopglobal-relevant strategies that will asssitin securing the safety of users of ICT. The implementation of the MoU will remain inforceforaperiodofthree(3)yearsafter.

CRAN will provide resources to the NCRSTFund for jointplannedcollaborativeeffortsandprovide topics of researchareswithinthe ICT sector and those in line with theobjectives of the Research, Science andTechnology(RST)Fund,forpossiblefunding.

NCRSTwillalsoprovideresourcesthroughtheNCRSTFundfor jointplannedcollaborativeefforts; manage the research anddevelopment grant in line with the grantmanagement rules and guidelines of theFund; andprovide technical and financialreports to CRAN. In addition, both entitieswillestablishajointtechnicalcommitteetodiscussandmonitor the implementationoftheMoU.


Dr.EinoMvulaNCRST CEO

CRAN SIGN MOU


CRAN signed a Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MoU) with the Ministry ofFinance:DirectorateofCustomsand Exciselastmonth.TheMoUwillestablishaframeworkto promote cooperation and coordinationwhen dealing with Type Approval; that isequipment approvals and standards, atborderpostswithinandaroundtheRepublicof Namibia.

The agreement further aims to establish a manner inwhichCRANandtheDirectorateof Customs and Excise will interact in orderto enforce the regulations pertaining to Type Aproval.

The regulations in respect of Type Approval and Technical Standards forTelecommunications Equipment areapplicable toallpersonswhouse, sell,offerfor sale or connect telecommunications equipmenttoanelectroniccommunicationsnetwork within the Republic of Namibia and all radio communications equipmentor apparatus to be utilised in terms of theregulations regarding Licence ExemptedSpectrum.

Type Approval certificates are issued forapproved equipment and are valid for aperiodofthreeyearsandmustberenewedaccordinglyThevariousfeesperequipmentcategory are outlined in the GovernmentGazette No. 5659, published on 30 January2016.

TheMoUmakesprovision for formal trainingfor Customs and Excise officials who, onbehalf of CRAN, will be required to issuepermits, certificates and other relevantdocumentationonimported,typeapprovedequipment at various border posts/port ofentry.

Importers and manufacturers oftelecommunicationsequipmentmustobtaintypeapprovalcertificates fromCRANonorbefore 30 April 2016. It is also important to note that importers of telecommunications equipment are responsible for the cost oftransport and storage of equipment whichhasnotbeen typeapprovedbyCRAN,buthas beenbroughtwithin theborders of theRepublic of Namibia.

BevanSimataaCommissionerCustomandExcise:MinofFin:



TYPE APPROVAL AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS DEADLINE EXTENDED

17CRANCommunications Regulatory Authority of Namibia

CRANextended the implementationof theRegulationsinrespectofTypeApprovalandTechnicalStandardsforTelecommunicationsEquipmentfrom01 May 2016 to 31 October 2016subjecttothefollowingconditions:

• Allapplicationsmustbesubmittedwithin90dayscommencingfrom01 May 2016 whichperiodwilllapseon31 July 2016;

• CRAN must process all applications receivedwithin the 90 days referred toabovewithinaperiodof90days,whichperiodlapseson31 October 2016;

• All applications received after 31 July 2016, will be processedon a first come first serve basis, except if the applicant canprovethatthetelecommunicationsequipment was manufactured/introduced in the market after 31 July 2016, in which case CRAN must process the application by 31 October 2016;

• All applications submitted after 30 September 2016 must ensure that they

receivetypeapprovalcertificatesbeforethey import any telecommunications equipmentintothecountry;

ACRANteamrecentlyvisitedvariousborderposts around the country to train customsofficialsabouttheTypeApprovalregulationsandenforcementthereof.

The team visited border posts in theZambezi,KavangoWest,and!Karasregions,respectively. Further visits to posts of entryin theErongoRegionandotherpartsof thecountryarelinedupinthenearfuture.

Thevisitstotheborderpostsareinlinewiththememorandumofunderstanding,whichCRANenteredintoearlierthisyearwiththeMinistryofFinance’sDirectorateofCustomsandExcise.Asthedeadlineof30 October 2016 looms for obtainingtypeapprovalcertificates,CRANisensuringallcriticalstakeholdersareengagedand fully informedon theprocessofhavingtheirequipmenttypeapprovedandthenewconditionsattachedtotheneedeadlineasdiscussedabove.

The purpose of the extension is to allow all relevantstakeholderswhomtheRegulationsareapplicableto,tosubmitandobtaintypeapproval certificates. CRAN will enforcecompliance with the Regulations from 1 November 2016 and all persons to befound in possession of telecommunicationsequipment that has not been approved,will be prosecuted in terms of the relevantprovisionsof theCommunicationsAct(No8of2009).

Questions, queries and further clarification must be directed to Legal Advice Department at Tel: +264 61 222 666 or email [email protected]

LazarusPaulus:TypeApprovalOfficer


DOMINANCE PUBLIC HEARING

Earlierthisyear,CRANhostedstakeholdersfromthe telecommunications industry to identifylicensees that hold a dominant position in themarket. The Communications Act prescribes thatdominantlicenseesshouldbeidentifiedbyhostingapublichearingandthatthisshouldbedonebytheAuthorityeverythreeyears.

CRAN commissioned its first dominance studyin 2012 where the dominant players in thetelecommunications market were identified.In 2015, as required by Section 78 of the Act,CRANcarriedoutamarketstudy,whichformedthebasisofthepublichearing.TheActrequiresCRANtonamedominantplayers inthemarketto effectively safeguard fair competition forall players, especially the smaller industryparticipants.

The proposed dominantmarkets according tothe2015MarketDominanceStudyareasfollows:Market1:FixedandMobileCallTerminationMarket2:WiredEndUserAccess

Market3:NationalDataTransmissionMarket4:Broadcasting

A licenseemust haveminimumof 35%marketshare in a specific market to be declareddominant. A dominant carrier is required tolease any infrastructure to any other carrier. However,itisimportanttonotethatanyabuseofanindividualorcollectivedominantpositionisprohibitedbytheCommunicationsAct.

CRAN may impose specific obligations on alicenseewhenthelicenseeisdeemeddominantin the market. CRAN may also restrict the provisionof telecommunicationsequipmentbyalicenseethatisdominant.

The outcome of the process discussed at thishearing will be officially published in the 5201GovernmentGazette167induecourse.

HeleneVaslooHead:EconomicsandSectorResearch

Dr.ChristophStorkConsultant


No broadcaster is under any obligation toshare infrastructure with an entity that doesnot have a service licence awarded byCRAN. Broadcasters are, however, requiredtoenterintoagreementsinrespectofpassiveinfrastructure sharingascontained in Section86(2)(f)oftheCommunicationsAct.Althoughvarious forms of sharing of tangible andintangiblenetworkfacilitiesalreadyexistwithinthe sector,CRANhas the responsibility to settherulesforlicenseesandotherstakeholders,to engage one another on the optimal sharing of their respective network facilities for thebenefitoftheindustryandtheendusers.

Conditions and charges pertaining toinfrastructure sharing must be reasonable,non-discriminatory and fairly apportionedamonglicenseesandutilities.

Infrastructure sharing offers a myriad ofadvantages,suchas;thereductionincapitaland operational investment requirements,loweringofenvironmentalimpactandenergyrequirementsandthecreationofnewrevenuestreams. It releases capital for strategic investments, provides new service offeringsanddecreasesbarrierstomarketentryfornewplayers.

Allverbalandwrittenstakeholdersubmissionshavebeencarefullyconsideredinthedraftingof the proposed regulations and membersof the public and all interested parties willbe notified upon publication of the finalregulationsintheGovernmentGazette.

CRAN hosted another infrastructure sharingpublic hearing,aspart of its final stakeholderconsultation in January 2016. The hearing afforded stakeholders from the ICT industry,localauthorities,utilitiesandotherconcernedparties,anopportunitytomakeoralsubmissionsonthecontentsofthedraftregulations.

Section 50(1) of the Communications Actprescribes “when it will promote competition or the other objects of this Act, a dominantcarrier must lease any infrastructure to any other carrier or must allow the latter carrier to install telecommunications equipment onsuch infrastructure or to otherwise utilise such infrastructure”.

INFRASTRUCTURE PUBLIC HEARING

FestusK.MbandekaCEO:CRAN

Variousstakeholdersfromthebroadcastingindustry


POSTAL LEGAL STUDY

CRAN hosted a consultative meeting onpostal regulation on 21 October 2015 at the GZFunctionCentre.Thefirstmeetingwasheldon 24 August 2015, where the Postal LegalStudyProjectanditsscopewereintroduced.After the inceptionof theproject,anumberofstakeholderswereinterviewedandadraftstudydocumentfocusingontheperceptionsof the framework of the postal market in Namibiawasfinalised.

The consultative meeting informedthe recommendations on defining theregulatory framework that will enable the commencement of chapter 7 of the Communications Act.

Asafollow-uponthismeeting,CRANhostedthe Postal Regulation Training seminar,facilitatedby GraemeLee,aSeniorPartnerat Sunflower Associates and Philip Bates, aPrincipal at Analysis Mason from earlier thisyear.

The training provided attendees with a

summaryoffindingsontheNamibianPostalLegalandMarketStudyandgaveinsightintotheglobalpostal environment, conceptsofregulation, postal sector policy and postalreform strategy. The training also coveredkey issues pertaining to the postal market in Namibia,outlinedtherolesofthekeypostalstakeholdersandproposedthewayforwardfor the postal sector.

The workshop further provided training onthequality, securityandmail integrity in thepostal sector and determined the universalserviceobligations,costingsandpricing.

Theattendeeshadtheopportunitytodiscusstheimplicationsofregulatingpostalservicesinthecountry.TheyalsoconsideredwhetherornotCRANshouldregulatecourierservices.

Based on the findings of the report, CRANwillmakearecommendationtotheMinisterof ICT on whether to commence with the regulationofpostalservicesinNamibia.


CRAN ATTENDS WRC-15

TheInternationalTelecommunicationsUnion(ITU)hostedtheWorldRadiocommunicationConference 2015 (WRC-15) in Geneva,Switzerland Oct 2015. The conferenceattractedmore than 3000 delegates from193ITUmemberstates.

ThisConference isheldevery three to fouryearsandseekstoreview,and,ifnecessary,reviseradioregulations,internationaltreatiesgoverning the use of radio-frequencyspectrumand thegeostationaryandnon-geostationary satellite orbits.

TheITUSecretaryGeneral,HoulinZhao,said“the conference will focus on pressing issues ofglobal interest, suchasclimatechangemonitoring, public protection and disasterreliefcommunications,spaceresearch,roadsafety, allocations for IMT-2020 5G mobilebroadband,thepossiblesuppressionofthe“leap second” to achieve a continuousreference time scale (UTC), and maritimecommunicationsandnavigationsystems”.One of the conference’s hottest topicwas the Unmanned Aircrafts, betterknown as drones. It surfaced during the

RonelleGrange;JochenTraut;FestusK.Mbandeka;EdwinBeukes

conference that the Arab States were in total disagreementtotheproposedresolutionforadditionalspectrumonthisagendaitem.TheDigitalDividend2bandor700BandwasapprovedtobeusedforIMTservices.

AfurtherhighlightwasthattheWRC-15initsfirstweekagreedonaspectrumallocationforglobalflighttracking.ThisissuewasplacedontheagendaattheBusanITUPlenipotanery2014 meeting and was concluded in oneyear.

WRC-19 will focus on spectrum sharing.A studymustbemade in thenext 4 years,outlininghowIMTandbroadcastingservicescanworktogetherinthe450MHzto960MHzbands.Theconferencewillalsofocusmoremaritimeservices.

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