A wave of initiatives is to be rolled out Planned across Tunisia’s telecoms industry as the country moves Towards Achieving the targets laid out for the sector in a vision drawn up to spearhead expansion icts.?In an attempt to Facilitate Increased access to services, real estate developers and telecoms operators will soon be Obliged to Ensure Planned Building Developments include the Necessary infrastructure for fiber optic capacity.
The Tunisia Broadband Strategy (TBS), released in September 2012, maps out the government’s plan to accelerate growth in the ICT sector through a broad ranks of Measures that include driving up fixed-line and mobile broadband penetration and Enhancing fiber optic (FO) capacity .
The strategy, developed by Which was the telecoms regulator, the National Authority of Telecommunications (National Telecommunications, INT), over a two-year period in consultation with the local Telecommunications Study & Research Centre and UK-based analysis firm Epitiro networking, aussi highlights what it Sees as the main Strengths and weaknesses of the sector.
Positive APPROBATION include healthy competition Between internet service providers (ISPs), the broadband penetration rate top in the region, high levels of ICT literacy, low cost for the service and Tunisia’s small geographical area.?In contrast, the TBS cites Tunisie Telecom’s monopoly on fixed-line voice services, a digital divide Between cities on the coast and in the interior Those, poor cooperation Between operators and a Lack of local content have issues weighing on the sector.
ICT plays a key role Already in Tunisia’s economy, with the industry now accounting for around 5% of GDP, although a large portion of this is a result of cost-sensitive services Such as offshoring.The Measures Outlined in the government’s strategy confirmed the plan to keep the sector in the spotlight, with the focus now expected to shift Towards infrastructure construction.
While Tunisia Recorded a 5.1% fixed-line broadband penetration at end-2011, the INT is looking to push the face up to 40% by 2016 and 60% by 2020.?The authority aussi AIMS to Increase the mobile broadband penetration rate from icts current rate of 3.9% to 35% within the same timeframe.
The TBS calls for mandatory cooperation on infrastructure installation, Which Believes the authority shoulds Improve efficiency in the sector while ALLOWING companies to focus more resources on Developing new products and services.?Consolidation of infrastructure shoulds help Reduce Costs for Existing operators, although it will allow the entry of aussi new Competitors Such as mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) into the market.
Efforts to Improve fixed broadband infrastructure will focus on Enhancing Primarily FO capacity.?The TBS plan to the economic development of the FO backbone by Integrating Existing telecom network with the services currently used in other Sectors Such as electricity and transportation.?The authority aussi Plans to Ensure companies are ble to take advantage of the Improved capacity set by Imposing Costs for leasing FO.
In a bid to Facilitate Access, the real estate developers obliged strategy and telecoms operators to Cooperate on Ensuring the infrastructure is put in place for FP services.?The INT HAS Said It Would draft a new law will require That real estate companies to the full civil engineering work needed for FO installation, while Planned Building Developments will be required to Legally include pre-wiring for FO connection.?Under the Planned legislation, FO operators who have installed Access infrastructure building will be Obliged to give access to the Competitors connections.
A key component of the strategy’s plan for the sharing of fixed infrastructure is a pledge to unbundle the local loop and end Tunisie Telecom’s monopoly on fixed-line voice services.?Besides by paving the way for newcomers to enter the fixed-line market, the unbundling of the local loop will allow ISPs Already using the copper lines for ADSL offerings to Provide voice services and market “multiplay” packages to Consumers.
Cooperation among Service providers will be required aussi in the mobile broadband segment 4G licenses When are Awarded.?Indicates That The strategy operators Applying for a license for 4G, Which is expected to be rolled out in 2014-15, must agree to Provide cellular coverage to a share of the country’s cellular services Remaining dead zones.
The INT is expected to impose mandatory sharing for Both radio access network and mobile infrastructure as a share of Reduce Unnecessary duplication to bid in the sector and encourage more efficient use of the limited frequencies available.?It outlines other initiatives aussi Aimed at making it Easier for operators to enter the broadband sector, Such as lowering the Costs Involved in Developing infrastructure.
